A still image from a video released by the Russian MoD on 30 December 2025, purportedly showing the deployment of an Oreshnik IRBM system at an undisclosed location in Belarus. (Russian MoD)
Russiaʼs Ministry of Defence (MoD) declared in a 30 December 2025 online post that it had put on combat duty a Strategic Missile Forces unit equipped with the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) system.
The MoD said a ceremony was held in the Republic of Belarus to put the unit on duty, with the flag of Russiaʼs Strategic Missile Forces raised.
Launch, signal, security, power supply, and driving personnel for the system were retrained on equipment before going on combat duty, the MoD said, with the ministry adding that “all conditions for combat duty and accommodation of Russian servicemen were created in advance”.
On 19 December 2025, Ukraineʼs President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an online post that “we previously warned our European and American partners that Russia would deploy Oreshnik on the territory of Belarus”, adding that the relocation from Russia “is nearing completion. We understand where it will be deployed”, without stating a location.
Janes Satellite Imagery Analysis has identified the probable site of the deployment.
A possible launch pad was visible under construction at the eastern end of the former Soviet Krichev-6 airbase in a 20 November 2025 photo assessed by Janes Satellite Imagery Analysis. The airbase in eastern Belarus is around 5 km from the Russian border.
A rail spur ending at an elongated secure structure, possibly for delivery and storage, was visible at the base.
A likely barracks and infrastructure were also visible under construction.
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