Russian military assets including two Il-976 SKIP command and telemetry aircraft, A-50U airborne early warning aircraft, four An-26, one An-74D aircraft, and helicopters have been deployed to Rogachevo air base on Novaya Zemlya. Ships are positioned around Novaya Zemlya to monitor and support test launches of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, which reportedly leaves a radioactive trail. Novaya Zemlya hosts a dedicated launch complex at Pankovo for Burevestnik tests. Airspace and waters around the archipelago are routinely restricted during tests from August to October. The Burevestnik missile allegedly flew a 14,000 km test flight lasting about 15 hours in late 2025, as confirmed by Russian and Norwegian military intelligence. The missile is nuclear-powered and has been under development since 2018, with a major accident in 2019 at the Nenoksa test site resulting in fatalities and radiation release, after which testing moved to Novaya Zemlya.

Russian military assets including two Il-976 SKIP command and telemetry aircraft, A-50U airborne early warning aircraft, four An-26, one An-74D aircraft, and helicopters have been deployed to Rogachevo air base on Novaya Zemlya. Ships are positioned around Novaya Zemlya to monitor and support test launches of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, which reportedly leaves a radioactive trail. Novaya Zemlya hosts a dedicated launch complex at Pankovo for Burevestnik tests. Airspace and waters around the archipelago are routinely restricted during tests from August to October. The Burevestnik missile allegedly flew a 14,000 km test flight lasting about 15 hours in late 2025, as confirmed by Russian and Norwegian military intelligence. The missile is nuclear-powered and has been under development since 2018, with a major accident in 2019 at the Nenoksa test site resulting in fatalities and radiation release, after which testing moved to Novaya Zemlya.