A team of researchers has identified a probable deployment site in Russia for the 9M370 Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile. The site, located in Vologda, Russia, approximately 295 miles north of Moscow, appears to be under construction and features infrastructure consistent with the deployment of the Burevestnik.
The researchers used satellite imagery from Planet Labs, a commercial satellite firm, to make their assessment. The images, taken on July 26, reveal a construction project adjacent to a nuclear warhead storage facility known as Vologda-20 or Chebsara. The facility is believed to be the likely deployment site for the Burevestnik.
The satellite imagery shows nine horizontal launch pads under construction, grouped in three clusters and linked by roads to buildings that are likely used for missile servicing. The launch pads are situated inside high berms, which may be intended to shield them from attack or prevent an accidental blast from detonating missiles in adjacent pads.
The researchers’ findings suggest that Russia is moving forward with the deployment of the controversial missile, despite its checkered past and concerns about its strategic value and safety risks. The Burevestnik has been touted by Russian President Vladimir Putin as “invincible” and capable of evading US missile defenses, but Western experts have expressed skepticism about its capabilities and raised concerns about its safety risks.
The identification of the probable deployment site raises concerns about Russia’s nuclear ambitions and the potential for an all-out nuclear arms race. The US has not sought negotiations with Russia to bring the Burevestnik under the New START treaty, which expires in February 2026. The treaty limits the number of strategic nuclear weapons that can be deployed by the US and Russia, but does not specifically address the Burevestnik.
