DiscoverUkrainecastHow dangerous is Russia’s nuclear powered missile?
How dangerous is Russia’s nuclear powered missile?

How dangerous is Russia’s nuclear powered missile?

Update: 2025-10-281
Share

Description

This week, Moscow's top general has claimed that Russia has tested a low-flying experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile. It is said to be powered by a nuclear reactor and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with a potentially unlimited range.

Russia calls it Burevestnik, Nato have codenamed it ‘Skyfall’, and others have said it’s a ‘tiny flying Chernobyl’. Western experts have previously cast doubt over missile's strategic value and Russian claims of having successfully tested it.

But how dangerous is it?

Victoria is joined by the BBC’s Ben Tavener and Catriona Perry in Moscow and Washington respectively, plus Dr Justin Bronk who is a senior research fellow for Airpower and Technology at the military think tank RUSI.

Plus, after Trump shifts his positions on sanctions, we look to the future to ask how the US president could potentially put more economic pressure on Russia.

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire. The producers were Julia Webster and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Dave O’Neill. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480
You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

How dangerous is Russia’s nuclear powered missile?

How dangerous is Russia’s nuclear powered missile?

BBC News