In the shadow of the war in Ukraine, and the attacks on Ukrainian territory, Vladimir Putin announced the successful completion of the tests of the new nuclear-powered cruise missile named Burevestnik. The news was conveyed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov in statements published on Sunday.

The rocket flew through 14,000 km and remained in the air for about 15 hoursGeneral Gerasimov told the Russian president.

Vladimir Putin stated that the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel – “Sea walker”) – named SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO – is “invincible…” against current and future missile defenses, with an almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path. “There is no analogue in the world” he triumphed.

Putin visited one of the command offices of the joint forces group and held a meeting with Gerasimov and commanders, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The president received a detailed briefing on the situation at the front.

In his remarks on Sunday, Putin, dressed in a camouflage uniform, stressed to Gerasimov that the critical Burevestnik tests are now complete and that work should begin on the final stage before the missiles are deployed.

“It was noted that up to 5,000 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are surrounded in the direction of Kupyansk and 5,500 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the direction of Krasnoarmeysk.”

The Russian military historically refers to vanquished enemies with mercy, he added about the Ukrainians being captured.