Military Watch:

All of Europe Within Range: New Oreshnik Ballistic Missiles Will Be Deployed in Belarus in 2025

Eastern Europe and Central Asia , Missile and Space

Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff

May-29th-2025

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RS-24 Yars Nucelar ICBM

Secretary of the Russian Security Council Alexander Volfovich on May 29 confirmed that Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile would be deployed in neighbouring Belarus before the end of 2025. Speaking on the sidelines of an international security summit, he observed: "By year's end, I believe the decision regarding the placement of Oreshnik, which was agreed upon by our heads of state, will become a reality. These issues have been resolved, and the locations within Belarus have been finalised. Preparations are proceeding as planned. Let others think - perhaps abroad - that it won't be in Belarus. But we know exactly where it is, and how it functions. Our primary concern is to remain confident and calm, ensuring the security of our peoples - Russia and Belarus.” Plans to deploy the missiles in Belarus were first revealed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 6, who at the time noted that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had asked about his country fielding the missiles in the context of their bilateral nuclear sharing agreement. 

Belarusian and Russian Presidents Lukashenko and Putin

Russia first fired the Oreshnik in combat on November 21, with the missile estimated to have a 4000km range, and carrying multiple independently re-targetable warheads with hypersonic reentry vehicles. These vehicles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads, with the majority of units deployed to Belarus are expected to be nuclear armed. Nuclear warheads shared with Belarus were previously deployed on the country’s Iskander-M short range ballistic missile systems, although a new derivative of the system was announced in May 2022 to be jointly under development by the two countries, with its range expected to be longer. In March President Lukashenko confirmed that his country had initiated manufacturing of several mobile launch vehicles for the Oreshnik, adding that these were nearing completion. The missiles are deployed from such vehicles to improve their survivability.

The Oreshnik’s range, advanced penetrative capabilities, and ability to delivery precision strikes across Europe, have raised significant concerns across much of the Western world. Shortly after the Oreshnik’s unveiling and first use in combat, Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin claimed it had a significant impact on British policy toward Moscow, and had forced London to take a more cautious approach towards supporting Ukrainian deep strikes against Russian targets.