Russia announced the deployment of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system to Belarus after alleging a Ukrainian attack with 91 drones, raising regional tensions, reducing alert times for European capitals, and increasing military and political concerns in Europe.
Missile launch signals new phase of conflict.
Russia has stated it has begun deploying a new nuclear-capable missile system to Belarus, a move that escalates tensions in the war with Ukraine and generates immediate apprehension among European countries.
The announcement came on Tuesday, a day after Moscow accused Ukraine of carrying out a major drone attack against the president’s residence. Vladimir Putin, an allegation promptly denied by Kiev.
The timing of the announcement was interpreted as politically sensitive, as it coincides with growing fears of military escalation and the possibility of reducing the time it takes for missiles to reach nearby European Union capitals.
According to Russian authorities, the launch and movement of the missiles represent a more precise warning, suggesting operational readiness and reinforcing the message that Moscow is willing to advance to a new stage of the conflict.
Military video exposes the movement of the Oreshnik system.
The Russian Ministry of Defense released video footage showing the Oreshnik missile system being transported through a snow-covered forest, accompanied by armed troops and military support vehicles.
The images also show soldiers camouflaging vehicles with green nets and raising a flag at an air base in eastern Belarus, near the Russian border, reinforcing the symbolic and strategic nature of the disclosure.
Moscow describes the Oreshnik system as having nuclear capability, but has not provided additional technical details about its range, yield, or warhead type, keeping sensitive information under military secrecy.
The Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko He declared that 10 Oreshnik systems would be installed in the country, expanding military cooperation between Minsk and Moscow in a context of regional tension.
Russian confirmation and implications for Europe
During a meeting with high-ranking military commanders, Vladimir Putin It confirmed that the missiles have entered active service, solidifying the deployment as an operational decision and not just a political announcement.
At the same meeting, the president reiterated his intention to annex more Ukrainian territory, including the city of Zaporizhia in southern Ukraine, while maintaining Russia’s unchanged position on territorial objectives.
Analysts believe that, if confirmed, the deployment would have strong symbolic weight, reducing the time it would take for a Russian missile to reach parts of the European Union from Belarus.
Belarus borders several NATO member countries, and the installation of nuclear-capable systems in that region has direct military implications and significant political effects for European alliances.
The release of the video was seen as a clear message to the outside world and, simultaneously, as preparation for the Russian public for a possible escalation of the conflict in the coming stages.
Allegations of drone attack raise questions.
The announcement of the missile deployment came after Russia claimed that Ukraine launched a major drone attack against Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region on Sunday night.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov He stated that there would be retaliation and declared that the targets had already been selected, adding that 91 Ukrainian drones participated in the operation.
The Kremlin, however, has not presented any public evidence to support the accusation. The presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov He said that no evidence would be released because all the drones had been shot down.
Peskov refused to explain the absence of debris, which raised further questions, especially given the usual pattern of disclosing visible damage after confirmed attacks. territory Russian.
Residents of the area reported to the independent news outlet Sota that they did not hear explosions or anti-aircraft fire, and there were no official warnings or verified videos showing smoke or structural damage.
Kyiv’s reaction and focus on diplomacy.
Ukraine has vehemently denied the accusations. The foreign minister Andrii Sybiha He stated that Russia fabricated the story and urged other countries not to react to the allegations presented by Moscow.
Sybiha stated that, after almost 24 hours, no plausible evidence had been presented, and criticized India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates for expressing concern about reports considered unfounded.
Ukrainian military commanders have acknowledged that Russian kamikaze drones frequently fly over sensitive locations in the country, indicating an environment of constant surveillance and high operational tension.
An officer from the 112th Territorial Defense Unit stated that his team shot down two drones on Saturday near the state residence in Koncha-Zaspa, south of Kyiv, in a localized defensive operation.
Despite the tense situation, Kyiv is maintaining diplomatic efforts. The events occurred after a two-hour meeting in Florida between Volodymyr Zelenskyy e Donald Trump, dedicated to a 20-point peace plan.
There was no agreement on the Donbas region, which Moscow demands to control. Zelenskyy rejected territorial concessions and proposed a demilitarized zone, conditional on a ceasefire of at least 60 days.
The Ukrainian president stated that Russia was spreading fake news in response to diplomatic progress and confirmed a meeting with European leaders on January 6th in France, at a conference organized by… Emmanuel Macron.