On 21 October 2025 Russia conducted what was described as the key test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile (also referred to as SSC-X-9 Skyfall).

The test was discussed at a meeting of the President of Russia and the military command on 26 October 2025. The relevant exchange starts at 9:15 in the official video.

The Chief of the General Staff reported that the test took place on 21 October 2025 and that "unlike in previous tests, this time the missile covered the distance of 14,000 km. And this is not a limit." He later added that the missile was in flight for about 15 hours. The missile used its nuclear propulsion system during the flight and conducted a series of "vertical and horizontal maneuvers" demonstrating the capability to evade air- and missile defense.

The president noted that "it will be necessary to decide how to classify this type of armament (presumably to distinguish it from regular cruise missiles), to determine the possible ways of employing this system, and to start preparing the infrastructure for the deployment of this weapon in our armed forces."

Activity at the Pan'kovo site (73.115550, 53.271458, see the image above) related to Burevestnik tests was noted by many observers in August 2025. It's possible that some (short-range) tests were indeed conducted at the time. Regarding the infrastructure for deployment, in September 2024, Decker Eveleth located what appears to be a Burevestnik deployment site (see also his April 2025 update). It is at 59.1088, 38.6372, right next to the Vologda-20 nuclear weapons storage facility (on those, see this post).