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After All the Hype, Kremlin Admits Putin’s Nuclear Tests Weren’t Nuclear at All

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
News Writer
Russian leader Vladimir Putin crosses himself during the celebration of the Orthodox Easter at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral, early April 20, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. (Source: Getty Images)
Russian leader Vladimir Putin crosses himself during the celebration of the Orthodox Easter at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral, early April 20, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. (Source: Getty Images)

After a week of boasting about Russia’s supposed nuclear breakthroughs, the Kremlin abruptly walked back Vladimir Putin’s claims, insisting that the recent tests of the Burevestnik cruise missile and Poseidon underwater drone were “in no way nuclear,” according to Russian media outlet Meduza on October 30.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “the information was hopefully conveyed correctly to President Trump,” referring to Donald Trump’s announcement that the US would resume nuclear weapons testing “on equal footing” with other nations.

“We hope the information was accurately conveyed to President Trump—these tests cannot in any way be interpreted as nuclear,” Peskov said.

The spokesman stressed that a global moratorium on nuclear testing remains in force and claimed that no country, including Russia, had violated it.

“As far as we know, no one is conducting nuclear tests,” he said. “And if somehow the tests of the Burevestnik were meant, they were by no means nuclear. All countries develop their defense systems—that’s not the same as nuclear testing.”

Peskov reiterated several times that the Burevestnik and Poseidon tests—both hyped by Putin as “unparalleled” weapons—did not involve nuclear detonations. He added that Moscow would only reconsider its stance if another country abandoned the testing moratorium.

“President Putin has repeatedly stated: of course, if someone departs from the moratorium, Russia will act accordingly,” Peskov said.

When asked whether Moscow saw itself in a new arms race with Washington, he dismissed the idea. “I wouldn’t put it that way,” Peskov said.

His remarks came days after Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to immediately resume US nuclear testing, citing Russia’s reported trials of the Burevestnik and Poseidon.

Putin had earlier described both systems as “next-generation strategic weapons”—one a nuclear-powered cruise missile, the other an autonomous nuclear torpedo—before the Kremlin suddenly rebranded the tests as non-nuclear after Washington’s reaction.

Earlier, Norway’s Vice Admiral Nils Andreas Stensoenes, head of Norway’s Intelligence Service, confirmed that Russia tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik long-range cruise missile last week.

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