Russia has announced tests of two new nuclear-capable weapon systems, the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone. These announcements occurred amid ongoing geopolitical developments, including US sanctions against Russia and the conflict in Ukraine, and have led to a US announcement regarding nuclear weapons testing.
Russia's Weapon System Announcements
President Vladimir Putin announced Russia had tested a new weapon on Wednesday. He specifically referenced the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile, describing it as a "unique product, unmatched in the world" and noting its classification was still being determined. Moscow had previously announced a test of this missile, which it described as having "unlimited-range."
Putin also highlighted the Poseidon, a nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable underwater drone, stating, "There is nothing like this." In 2018, Russian media reported the Poseidon would be capable of achieving a speed of 200km/h (120mph) and traveling in a "constantly changing route." A senior Russian MP stated this drone could "put entire states out of operation." Both the Poseidon and the Burevestnik were initially presented in 2018.
Mark Galeotti, a Russia scholar, characterized both weapons as second-strike, retaliatory systems.
Technical Challenges
In 2019, an explosion that killed five Russian nuclear engineers was linked to the Burevestnik by some Russian and Western experts. The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) stated in 2021 that Russia faced "considerable technical challenges" in ensuring "the reliable performance of the nuclear-propulsion unit" of the missile.
Geopolitical Context
The announcements concerning these weapons followed shifts in US-Russia diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine. A planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Putin was cancelled after the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly concluded that differences between Moscow and Washington were too significant for a high-level meeting to yield results. Subsequently, the US imposed sanctions on two Russian oil producers, citing Moscow's failure to agree on a peace deal in Ukraine.
David Heathcote, head of intelligence at McKenzie Intelligence Services, suggested these announcements could be viewed in the context of Russia's conventional forces given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
International Reactions
US President Trump announced the US would resume nuclear weapons testing, stating it was "appropriate that we do also" to keep pace with other countries such as Russia and China. This would mark the first US nuclear test in 33 years, with resumption expected to take several months.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, responded by questioning whether the US president had been correctly informed, stating that the Russian tests "cannot in any way be interpreted as a nuclear test."
Christopher Egerton of the Institute for Strategic Studies (IIS) suggested Trump's decision was likely a direct response to Russia's Burevestnik test, potentially leading to US flight tests of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.