BIG trouble for Ukraine as Russia develops next-gen nuclear-powered cruise missiles capable of…, Putin says ICBMs equipped with…

Russia-Ukraine war: In a major development that could impact the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed that Moscow has begun developing its next generation of nuclear-powered cruise missiles, capable of reaching “more than three times the speed of sound, and in the future, they will even become hypersonic.”

Russia mass producing Oreshnik missiles

“All our plans for the development of promising weapons systems, for the development of the defence sector, for equipping the Russian army and Navy with state-of-the-art weapons and vehicles are being implemented,” Putin said while addressing an award ceremony for weapons developers in the Kremlin, Moscow’s state-owned TASS news agency reported.

Putin said Russia’s Avangard strategic missile system has entered combat duty, adding that the country has begun the mass production of its Oreshnik missiles. “We have developed and put on duty, and launched mass production of the Oreshnik intermediate-range missile system,”  he said, according to TASS.

The Russian president said they have equipped intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine missiles with “advanced warheads”, and noted that nuclear-capable weapons were of “historic significance” for Russia and “for the entire 21st century.”

Russia tests Burevestnik missile, Poseidon drone

Vladimir Putin revealed that Russia’s Burevestnik missile has “surpassed all known missile systems in the world” in terms of flight range, claiming that it was test fired on October 21 when a NATO vessel was present in the area, but stressed that Russia “didn’t interfere with its operations.”

Additionally, Russia also recently tested the Poseidon — a nuclear-powered underwater drone — and launched the Khabarovsk, a new nuclear submarine specifically designed to deploy such weapons.

The Poseidon drone system reportedly enables the drone to travel at great depths, exceed the speed of modern torpedoes, and cover intercontinental distances. Putin had reportedly unveiled both weapons in 2018, and had previously  announced a successful test of the Burevestnik in 2023, CNN reported.

How Moscow’s new weapons could impact Russia-Ukraine war?

The developments come amid recent escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war, with Russian forces closing in on Pokrovskoye, one of Ukraine’s main defensive strongholds in the south Donetsk area.

Putin’s comments come as US President Doland Trump has directed the Pentagon to restart nuclear weapons testing, saying he gave the order “because of other countries’ testing programs”, in an indirect reference Russia’s development of nuclear-powered missiles.

Experts believe Russia’s new arsenal could decisively tilt the balance of the Russia-Ukraine war in Moscow’s favor, by enabling precision strikes on strategic and military targets deep inside Ukraine.