Two U.S. researchers have located the suspected location of Russia’s new 9M370 Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile. The site is in Vologda, Russia, about 295 miles north of Moscow.

What happened: Using satellite imagery from Planet Labs on July 26, researchers identified a construction project adjacent to a nuclear warhead storage facility called Vologda-20 or Chebsara. Decker EvelethAn analyst at research organization CNA identified nine horizontal launch pads under construction that are protected by high walls, Reuters reported on Monday.

Eveleth and Jeffery Lewis the Middlebury Institute for International Studies in Monterey concluded that the site is likely intended for the Burevestnik missile, also known by NATO as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall. The missile is being launched by the Russian President Vladimir Putin as almost unlimited range and the ability to evade US missile defenses.

However, some Western experts question the missile’s strategic value and its potential risks, including radiation hazards. The identification of the site suggests that Russia will continue to deploy it despite the missile’s checkered testing history.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the United States and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.

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Why it is important: This development comes against the backdrop of increased military activity and nuclear posturing by Russia. In May, Russia announced plans for a tactical nuclear weapons exercise, citing perceived threats from Western states. The move was seen as a direct response to what Russia called “provocative statements and threats” from the West.

In early February, US intelligence agencies suggested that Russia might be working on a nuclear-powered device designed to disrupt satellite electronics, rather than a nuclear warhead, raising fears about the potential for space conflict.

In November, Russia successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile from its new nuclear submarine, the Emperor Alexander III, as part of a broader strategy to demonstrate its military capabilities amid rising tensions with the West.

In addition, Russian military documents leaked in February revealed a surprisingly low threshold for use of tactical nuclear weapons, suggesting that Russia may consider using them at an early stage of a conflict with a major world power.

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This story was created with Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote