(Oct 26): Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile that his military said was capable of travelling for at least 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles).
Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said the Burevestnik was tested on Oct 21, according to footage of a meeting with military commanders posted on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel. The weapon, which flew for about 15 hours, is capable of beating missile-defence networks, he said.
Putin discussed the Burevestnik with Gerasimov after a Budapest summit proposed by US President Donald Trump to discuss peace in Ukraine collapsed a week after it was floated. The US instead imposed sanctions last week on Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, while also renewing discussions in Washington about potentially supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Putin previously called the possible deployment of Tomahawks in Ukraine an escalation.
Dressed in millitary uniform, Putin called the new weapon “unique,” and said the missile’s class needed to be determined and infrastructure prepared, so that it can be deployed. A large amount of work needed to be conducted before that could be done, Putin added.
When discussing the frontlines, Gerasimov told Putin that Kremlin forces had encircled the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region of northeast Ukraine. His claim couldn’t be independently verified. The Ukrainian General Staff said its troops are holding the line, repelling attacks in the Kupyansk area.
In Kyiv itself, at least three people were killed in a Russian attack overnight, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The strike followed ballistic missile and drone barrages the previous night that claimed two lives in the capital and two more in Dnipropetrovsk.
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“Every Russian strike is an attempt to inflict as much damage as possible on ordinary life,” Zelenskiy said on social media platform X. “This week, they’ve been striking residential buildings, our people, children, and civilian infrastructure. These are the main targets for the Russians.”
Response efforts are ongoing in Kyiv following the Russian attack. All the necessary emergency services are working at the sites. Last night, Russia launched more than 100 drones against us. Ordinary apartment buildings in several districts of the city have been damaged.… pic.twitter.com/oFJMUYf46Y — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 26, 2025
At least 29 others were wounded in the attack, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Sunday on Telegram. Russia launched 101 drones at Ukraine, with 90 downed, according to the country’s air defence forces.
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The Russian Defense Ministry said it had intercepted 82 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Andrii Sybiha @andrii_sybiha — Overnight, Russia launched over 100 drones, primarily at Kyiv. Ordinary residential houses damaged. At least three people killed and dozens injured, including children. Russia is a terrorist state and deserves full international isolation for its constant terror against Ukraine. Sent via Twitter for iPhone. View original tweet.
The strikes came as Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, has spent the weekend in the US for talks with officials.
Dmitriev posted images on his Telegram channel showing souvenir chocolates decorated with Putin’s image, saying they were prepared “within the framework of the Russia–US dialogue”. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the gifts were given to US officials.
Uploaded by Liza Shireen Koshy
