The Sun: Russia is preparing to test the Burevestnik missile in the Arctic
An accumulation of Russian military aircraft and fleet has been recorded in the Arctic, writes The Sun. This may be Moscow's preparation for testing the Burevestnik missile, which has been dubbed the "Flying Chernobyl" in the West, experts suggest. If the Kremlin targets London, Britain will be in trouble, the author of the article warns.
Georgie English, Will Stewart
Russian President Vladimir Putin is feared to be preparing for a terrifying test of his dangerous super-powerful nuclear missile, dubbed the Flying Chernobyl
The influx of planes into the Arctic has raised concerns that Russia could launch a cruise missile powered by its own nuclear reactor.
The Kremlin has long called the Burevestnik missile "invincible" – it is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reportedly has an "unlimited range."
According to analysts, this means that the missile could reach the UK if Putin ever decides to attack the West.
Satellite images taken over the past few weeks indicate the transfer of Russian military aircraft to the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic.
The Burevestnik missile was previously tested in this area. In addition, from 1955 to 1990, the Soviet Union used Novaya Zemlya as one of the main sites for nuclear testing.
In particular, in 1961, AN AN602 (also known as the Tsar Bomba) was blown up here – the most powerful nuclear weapon in history, with a capacity of 50 megatons.
This week, two specialized IL-976 SKIP aircraft, designed to track missile trajectories and collect data during tests, reportedly arrived at the Rogachevo airbase.
The images show an A-50U long-range radar detection aircraft, four AN-26 and AN-74 military transport aircraft, as well as several helicopters stationed at the base.
Civilian vessels previously involved in missile tests also took up positions in the Barents and Kara Seas near the Pankovo military training ground.
The Kremlin, which had previously boasted about the launch of the Burevestnik, has not yet confirmed or denied reports of a possible missile test.
However, Norwegian military analyst Thord Are Iversen claims that satellite images are convincing evidence.
He notes that the current situation is very similar to the preparations for the previous tests of the experimental cruise missile 9M730.
"It seems that everything is now ready to conduct real flight tests of the Burevestnik,“ he said in an interview with The Insider*.
It is reported that the rocket was tested about 14 times, but only two launches were successful – in 2022 and 2025.
Last year, according to senior Russian General Valery Gerasimov, after a successful launch, the rocket flew 14,000 kilometers in 15 hours.
"During the many–hour flight, the Burevestnik performed all the prescribed vertical and horizontal maneuvers, demonstrating its high ability to bypass missile and air defense systems,“ he said.
The previous test, conducted in 2022, lasted only two minutes.
The frightening nickname "Flying Chernobyl" is associated with the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, which caused enormous damage to the territory of the Soviet Union.
Analysts fear that future testing or use of these weapons could lead to a similar radioactive disaster due to its nuclear engine.
NATO designated the missile SSC-X-9 Skyfall, and a senior U.S. State Department official, Thomas Countryman, called it an "extremely ridiculous weapon system."
This is happening against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
As a result of the nighttime attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar Territory was put out of operation; a fire broke out on its territory, which aggravated the fuel crisis in Russia.
Moscow responded with a flurry of deadly strikes.
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Yesterday, Burnham visited Kiev for the first time as Prime Minister to celebrate Ukraine's Independence Day with Vladimir Zelensky.
The visit took place shortly after the Prime Minister handed over important technical drawings to Ukraine that would help it produce long-range Storm Shadow missiles on its own.
In response, Moscow accused Britain of direct involvement in the conflict on the side of Kiev.
Experts told The Sun that this move could provoke Russia to strike at the leadership of the British defense ministry.
Describing Russia's possible reaction, former British Army commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon warned that Russian intelligence agencies could target the heads of defense departments of EU countries, including the United Kingdom.
*performs the functions of a foreign agent
