Kremlin says secret awards for Burevestnik designers issued for security reasons

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the decision to award the developers of Russia’s Burevestnik cruise missile and Poseidon underwater drone in secret was taken for security reasons.

Speaking during a press call, Peskov told reporters that the honours were issued under classified presidential decrees, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“This is closed information, these are closed decrees for obvious reasons,” he said, according to Kommersant.

He added that President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly recognised the creators of Russia’s new strategic weapons systems, stressing that “this is not a newly created precedent.”

9M730 Burevestnik

Often called “Storm Petrel” (or NATO’s “SSC-X-9 Skyfall”), this is a Russian ground-launched cruise missile powered by a nuclear reactor, allegedly giving it near-unlimited range. During a test on 21 October 2025, it flew about 14,000 km over 15 hours. It is designed to fly very low (ca. 50-100 m altitude) to evade radar and to challenge missile-defence systems. 
Critics point out its test record is poor and question the safety of a missile powered by a flying reactor. 

Poseidon (underwater drone)

This is a Russian autonomous, nuclear-powered underwater vehicle (sometimes dubbed a “drone” or torpedo) capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads. It can reach depths up to 1,000 m, speeds of up to 60-70 knots (≈110-130 km/h) and ranges in the thousands of kilometres. It is intended to target coastal infrastructure, naval bases or carrier groups and forms part of Russia’s effort to boost its strategic deterrence. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev