Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko speaks during the 2nd Eurasian Economic Forum in Moscow, Russia, on May 24, 2023. Getty Images/Contributor
In December 2025, the Russian missile system “Oreshnik” will be stationed on Belarusian territory on combat duty. This position was voiced by Natalia Eismont, the press secretary for the Belarusian leader, noting that the creation of the necessary conditions for deploying the missile system is nearing completion.
In December of this year it will be placed on combat duty, so any talk of whether the Oreshnik will exist is over
– Natalia Eismont
According to the spokesperson for the ruling team, the process of preparing launch sites and infrastructure for deploying the missile remains on track to fully implement the plan. In September, during the Zapad-2025 exercises, Belarusian and Russian forces practiced the use of the Oreshnik, as well as the use of drones and modern battlefield tactics.
Timeline of events and context
On November 21, 2024, Russia carried out missile strikes against Ukraine of various types. Ukraine’s Air Forces recorded the use of intercontinental systems, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that the strike could be linked to Russia’s deployment of new weapons.
According to Ukraine’s president, Putin uses Ukrainian territory as a testing ground for new weapons, and Russia is already employing missiles of a new type in response to various challenges. On November 21, 2024, the Kremlin leader stated that Russia had tested a new medium-range ballistic missile, naming it “Oreshnik,” and allegedly carried out a strike on Dnipro.
On November 28, 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defense and General Staff reported selecting targets for striking with the new missile system “Oreshnik” on Ukrainian territory, notably indicating possible centers of decision-making in Kyiv.
This event highlights the growing role of missile systems in regional security and their impact on the strategic calculations of allied countries. Analysts note that deploying the “Oreshnik” in Belarus could alter the lines of defense and the scale of threat responses in the region, as well as the need for new formats of warning exchange and control.