Putin Unveils 21st-Century Doomsday Weapons to Counter NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the successful testing of two advanced nuclear-powered weapons—the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon super torpedo—citing them as critical additions to Moscow's strategic arsenal amid escalating tensions with the West. The tests, conducted in late October 2025, underscore Russia's efforts to modernize its nuclear capabilities and counter perceived threats from U.S. and NATO missile defense systems, according to a Business Standard report and reporting by Reuters.

The Burevestnik (SSC-X-9 Skyfall), a nuclear-powered cruise missile, completed a 14,000-kilometer (8,700-mile) flight lasting approximately 15 hours during its test on October 21, according to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. Putin described the weapon as "unique" and "invincible," emphasizing its ability to evade missile defenses due to its nearly unlimited range and unpredictable flight path, as reported by The New York Times and Sky News. The missile, which had previously faced scrutiny after a 2019 test explosion that killed several engineers, is now reportedly nearing deployment, according to CBS News and an online report by TWZ.

Concurrently, Putin revealed a successful test of the Poseidon (Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System), a nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable torpedo designed to unleash radioactive tsunamis. During a meeting with wounded soldiers, Putin claimed the October 28 test marked the first launch of the torpedo using a submarine's booster motor and activation of its nuclear power unit. He asserted the weapon's superiority over Russia's Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, calling it "unmatched" in speed and depth. Reporting by Reuters earlier noted these claims, while analysis in Newsweek suggested the Poseidon could carry a "dirty bomb" warhead, spreading long-term radioactive contamination or triggering catastrophic coastal flooding; TWZ's coverage echoed those concerns.

The announcements follow a week of strategic nuclear drills by Russia, which included launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. These tests occurred amid stalled peace talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and renewed Western sanctions on Russian energy giants. Putin's emphasis on nuclear advancements appears aimed at countering U.S. support for Ukraine and deterring what he frames as NATO encroachment, according to ABC News and a defense roundup in Euro-SD.

Experts have raised concerns about the weapons' environmental and strategic risks. Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear nonproliferation expert, called the Burevestnik a "tiny flying Chernobyl," highlighting the dangers of nuclear propulsion. Meanwhile, the Poseidon's potential to render coastal areas uninhabitable has drawn comparisons to Cold War-era "doomsday" concepts, observations previously reported by The New York Times and analyzed in Newsweek. Despite these risks, Putin insists the weapons bolster Russia's "nuclear shield" and reinforce its global military stature, as Sky News and Euro-SD coverage noted.

The tests have reignited debates over nuclear arms control. U.S. officials, including Trump, have criticized Russia's escalation, urging an end to the Ukraine war. However, Moscow's strategic weapons programs continue to advance, prioritized over conventional military struggles in Ukraine. With both the Burevestnik and Poseidon entering deployment phases, the international community faces renewed pressure to address the implications of these unconventional, hard-to-intercept systems, as discussed in Newsweek and Euro-SD reporting.