A pair of researchers from the United States claim to have discovered a likely location in Russia for the 9M370 Burevestnik missile, a nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed cruise missile that President Vladimir Putin has described as "invincible." Known as SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO, Putin asserts that this weapon boasts nearly unlimited range and the ability to bypass U.S. missile defense systems. However, various Western analysts challenge these assertions, arguing that the Burevestnik does not provide additional capabilities beyond what Russia already possesses and poses a risk of nuclear accidents, particularly related to radiation.

Utilizing satellite photographs captured on July 26 by the commercial company Planet Labs, the researchers located a construction project adjacent to a nuclear warhead storage site known as both Vologda-20 and Chebsara. This facility is situated around 475 kilometers (295 miles) north of the Russian capital, Moscow, suggesting a possible nexus for deploying the missile system.