Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - A Russian nuclear-capable missile system has been placed on operational duty in Belarus, raising fresh security concerns across Europe.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed on Tuesday that the
Oreshnik missile, a hypersonic, nuclear-capable weapon, is now in
active service on Belarusian territory. The ministry did not disclose how many
missiles were deployed or their exact locations.
According to Russian sources cited by international media,
an Oreshnik launch from Belarus could reach London in as little as eight
minutes, significantly reducing response time compared with launches from
southern Russia.
Video footage released by the Belarusian Defence Ministry
showed mobile missile launchers moving through forested areas, with crews
camouflaging the systems using netting. A senior officer was seen informing
troops that the missile systems had officially entered combat duty and would
undergo routine training and reconnaissance operations.
The Oreshnik missile reportedly made its battlefield debut
in Ukraine in November 2024. Vladimir Putin has previously claimed that a
limited number of strikes using the weapon could cause destruction comparable
to that of a nuclear attack.
Analysts believe the missiles are likely deployed in eastern
Belarus near the city of Krychaw, close to Russia’s western border. Researchers
in the United States said they were “90 percent confident” the launchers are
based at a former air base approximately 300 kilometres east of Minsk,
according to Reuters.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has publicly praised
the deployment, claiming the system would strengthen his country’s security,
although control of the missiles remains firmly under Moscow.
The deployment comes amid heightened tensions over the war
in Ukraine and fragile diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict. Russia
has recently issued sharp rhetoric against Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky, while Kyiv has accused Moscow of using threats and misinformation to
undermine peace initiatives.
Military analysts describe the Oreshnik as an
intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of travelling at Mach 10, carrying
multiple independently targeted warheads, and designed to evade missile defence
systems through unpredictable flight paths. Its range is estimated at up to
5,000 kilometres, placing much of Europe within reach.
The latest deployment is expected to intensify scrutiny from
NATO allies and further complicate security dynamics in Eastern Europe.
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