The article doesn't make any arguments for being ahead on nuclear tech. It just lists accomplishments and speaks of the launch of a closed cycle nuclear reactor announced by Putin.

The generation IV International Forum (GIF) which includes Russia has announced this in 2002 and selected the 6 gen IV systems most suited for development out of about 100 proposed designs.

The original charter members of GIF are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, the UK and the USA. They have been joined by Switzerland, China, Russia, Australia and, through the Euratom research and training programme, the European Union.

Seems to me no country can solely claim this advancement

Most of the countries are party to the 2005 Framework Agreement, which formally commits them to participate in the development of one or more Generation IV systems selected by GIF for further R&D. Argentina, Australia and Brazil did not sign the Framework Agreement, and the UK withdrew from it. Russia formalized its accession to the Framework Agreement in August 2009 as its tenth member, with Rosatom as implementing agent.

Source

I mean, this article makes no claim to support the title. Therefor >> propaganda by a state owned news outlet.