Vladimir Putin tests new 'invincible' nuclear-powered missile

Russia has tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile with an unlimited range, the country's top general said.

The nuclear-capable missile travelled 14,000km (8,700 miles) and was in the air for about 15 hours during the test on Tuesday, Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, told President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.

The Russian leader, whose full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues more than three years after it was launched, described the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) as "invincible" to current and future missile defences, with an almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path.

In remarks released by the Kremlin, Mr Putin said the "crucial testing" of the weapon had concluded and that work should start on the final stages before it is deployed.

The missile is dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO.

On Wednesday Mr Putin oversaw a test of Russia's strategic nuclear forces on land, sea and air.

"The so-called modernity of our nuclear deterrent forces is at the highest level," the Russian president said.

Sky News' military analyst Sean Bell said Mr Putin's comments about the Skyfall missile were "all rhetoric".

"It's absolutely no benefit to Russia whatsoever to get involved in a nuclear exchange. This is all trying to keep the West at bay as it continues to fight in its invasion in Ukraine," he said.

Mr Bell outlined the situation on the ground and said: "The front lines, they are moving. I mean, Russia is winning. It's just winning very, very slowly.

"And I think what's happening at the moment in the West is that even with the West's support for the last three and a half getting on for four years, Ukraine is still losing. So what does the West have to do differently?

"America's support looks a little bit more flaky now and therefore the onus is on the Europeans.

"What more should be done? Because if Ukraine was to fall all of a sudden - Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, who next?… and that compromises European security."

Deadly drone strikes on Kyiv

Three people were killed in a Russian overnight drone attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, which also injured 31, including six children.

Fires caused by Russian drones broke out in two residential buildings in the Desnianskyi district, with emergency crews evacuating civilians from a nine-storey building and a 16-storey building.

Ukraine's interior minister Ihor Klymenko said a woman, 19, and her mother, 46, were among the fatalities.

Seven of the injured, including two children, were taken to the city's hospitals, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app.

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According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia attacked Ukraine with 101 drones overnight on Sunday, of which 90 were shot down and neutralised by Ukrainian forces.

Kyiv and its surrounding region were under air raid alerts for somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes before the air force called them off.

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