Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed the testing of a new long-range missile, named Burevestnik, which is nuclear-powered and capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Speaking at an annual event hosted by the Valdai think tank, Putin revealed that the missile can hit targets thousands of kilometers away and can carry up to ten nuclear warheads.
According to Ritzau, this is the first time Putin has confirmed the testing of this new missile.
Additionally, Putin mentioned that Russia is nearly done with the development of another new ballistic missile, Sarmat, which is also a part of Russia's next-generation nuclear arsenal. He emphasized that Russia is a nuclear power, especially in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Putin warned that no sane person with a good memory would ever use nuclear weapons against Russia. He stated that if such an attack were to happen, hundreds of Russian missiles would be in the air, leaving no chance for any enemy to survive.
The Russian president also touched upon the topic of nuclear testing. While Russia has not conducted any nuclear tests involving explosions since 1990, Putin did not rule out the possibility of future tests. He pointed out that the United States has signed but not ratified the treaty against nuclear testing.
In his speech, Putin also criticized Europe for creating a new "Iron Curtain" and accused the West of always needing an enemy.
He said Russia's mission is now to create a new world order as a counter to what he sees as Western dominance.
Putin also criticized Russia's exclusion from the investigation into explosions that hit the Nord Stream gas pipeline last September.
