"Russia tests nuclear-powered missile, dubbed 'flying Chornobyl,' sparks global condemnation"

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of the country’s Burevestnik cruise missile, which reportedly uses a nuclear-powered engine and can carry a nuclear warhead. Arms control experts have labeled it a "flying Chernobyl" due to concerns over its nuclear reactor propulsion, which could emit radioactive exhaust during flight.

Over the weekend, General Valery Gerasimov informed Putin that the missile traveled 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) during a 15-hour flight in a test conducted on October 21. NATO refers to the missile as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall. Russia has repeatedly warned that the conflict in Ukraine could escalate to nuclear levels, particularly if Western allies provide long-range weapons or direct military support.

In August 2019, a major nuclear-related incident killed five Russian scientists believed to have been working on the Burevestnik or a similar system. The accident released radiation into nearby areas. Later that year, Putin posthumously honored the scientists, describing their work as an "unparalleled" weapons project.

Early Monday, Russian authorities reported that Ukrainian drones forced temporary shutdowns at Moscow’s Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports. Defense units intercepted 28 drones overnight, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, though no damage details were provided. Russia typically withholds full assessments of strikes on its territory unless civilian sites are affected. Ukraine has not commented, though Kyiv has previously stated its strikes target military and logistical infrastructure supporting Russia’s war effort.

New U.S. sanctions on Russia’s oil sector had an immediate impact, triggering a 6% rise in global oil prices. Reports indicated an abrupt halt in Russian oil shipments to India, its largest crude buyer, as well as to major state-owned Chinese refiners. Luke Wickenden of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air noted, "If Moscow loses these markets, it could forfeit $7.4 billion in monthly revenue, with approximately $3.6 billion in tax income—funds that fuel its military operations. India alone accounts for around $1.6 billion in monthly taxes."

Following worsening U.S.-Russia relations, sanctions, and the cancellation of a planned meeting between Putin and Donald Trump in Budapest, Putin’s top economic envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, accused external forces of obstructing dialogue. Dmitriev claimed there were "titanic efforts" to undermine U.S.-Russia talks upon arriving in Washington to meet with Trump administration officials. Initially, Trump praised his recent discussion with Putin and confirmed their planned meeting, but days later, the arrangement was abandoned.