How dangerous is Russia’s nuclear powered missile?
Ukrainecast
BBC
4.7 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 28 October 2025
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, it's 1,3403 days since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. |
| 0:12.4 | No Vitale today, but I have enrolled colleagues of mine from Moscow and Washington. |
| 0:17.6 | There's lots to discuss, including Russia testing a nuclear-powered missile. |
| 0:23.6 | I'm going to say that again. Russia testing a nuclear-powered missile. We're almost used to |
| 0:29.9 | these things, and I don't want us to be used to these things. It has been described this |
| 0:36.0 | missile test as a tiny flying Chernobyl. |
| 0:40.4 | We'll assess how accurate that description is. |
| 0:44.6 | Also, we're going to talk about the effect of those new sanctions by the US targeting Russia's two largest oil companies. |
| 0:51.4 | And we'll bring you the latest on the fighting. |
| 0:56.1 | It's October, As we know, |
| 1:01.9 | as you know, as a long-time Ukraine-cast listener, Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure intensifies at this time of year, because on top of everything else, Russia wants to make |
| 1:07.0 | Ukrainians very, very cold over winter. |
| 1:12.3 | This is Ukrainecast. |
| 1:15.5 | Ukraine cast from BBC News. |
| 1:20.1 | This is a sovereign nation under unprovoked attack. |
| 1:22.8 | We are ready to finish this war as quick as possible. |
| 1:24.8 | Russia is not preparing for peace. We are an enemy of NATO and we'll do whatever is necessary |
| 1:28.4 | to ensure our security. |
| 1:30.2 | I don't love it. |
| 1:31.2 | I don't love when that happens. |
| 1:32.7 | It could be big trouble. |
| 1:33.8 | This is a game changer for Ukraine |
... |
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