Why Putin’s ‘invincible’ nuclear-powered missile is more likely to become a disastrous ‘flying Chernobyl’ for Russia

Russian strongman Vladimir Putin’s latest threats that Moscow is preparing to deploy its new “invincible” nuclear-powered cruise missile has drawn a rebuke from President Trump and a reminder of America’s own nuclear might.

But experts say the Burevestnik missile could end up being more like a disastrous “flying Chernobyl” for Russia — and proves Putin is actually nervous about the possibility of the US giving Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.

George Barros, of the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, described Putin’s ominous Sunday announcement as a form of fear mongering from a Kremlin afraid that the US could give Kyiv a much more conventional weapon — the tried and true Tomahawk.

“We saw Putin ostentatiously present the [Burevestnik] missile and the details of the test flight, but that presentation was not about the missile, its goal was to drive at emotions and fears,” Barros said of Moscow’s threat.

“They want to stop the West from supporting Ukraine out of fear using this cruise missile,” he added. “This is something Americans shouldn’t lose sleep over.”

While little is known about the specifics of the Burevestnik, which NATO code-named Skyfall, Putin has touted it as an “invincible” weapon capable of bypassing all current and future missile defense systems. 

On Sunday, Putin and his officials claimed the nuclear-powered missile flew for 15 hours straight, covering a distance of about 8,700 miles, which would make it capable of reaching major US cities.

Moscow has previously boasted that it can fly between 528 to 800 miles per hour, which would make it difficult, but impossible, to intercept, experts say.

But many observers are skeptical that the Skyfall missile boasts all of the advances that Putin claims — and that Russia is even capable of constructing such a weapon.

Russia — along with the US, China and other countries — have been putting nuclear warheads on missiles for decades.

However, the 40-foot Burevestnik is purportedly powered by a small nuclear reactor, which allows it to fly for a much longer time than other missiles.

The US abandoned efforts to build nuclear-powered missile weapons during the 1950s arms race with the Soviet Union as a nuclear-powered missile would effectively be a huge radiation risk.

Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear nonproliferation expert at Middlebury College, described it as a “tiny flying Chernobyl,” referencing the Soviet power plant that melted down and covered a 1,600-mile area with toxic radiation.

During a 2019 test at a navy base in the White Sea, a Burevestnik missile reportedly exploded, killing five nuclear engineers and two service members, with radiation levels spiking in the area for a time.

While Lewis believes the Burevestnik is only capable of subsonic speed and easy to intercept, he warned that Russia’s ambition poses a return to the Cold War era.

“NATO aircraft could intercept it. The problem is that Burevestnik is yet another step in an arms race that offers no victory for either side,” he wrote on X.

Despite Moscow’s claims that the weapon was being prepared for the frontlines, Barros said Russia would not dare use the missile, or else it would risk a nuclear counterattack.

“Our assessment shows that the logic of mutually assured destruction that kept us safe during the Cold War would still apply, so it doesn’t matter how advanced Russia claims its nuke is,” Barros noted.

“Putin is waving his nuclear rattle, all while members of his team, like [special envoy] Kirill Dmitriev are in the US working to try and convince the US that Russia and America should be allies,” he added.

Barros also said that President Trump’s tough response to Russia, warning of nuclear retaliation, was “the perfect” answer to Putin buffing his chest.

“They’re not playing games with us. We’re not playing games with them either,” Trump said, telling reporters that the US has a nuclear submarine stationed “right off” Russia’s shore.