Russia to Deploy Oreshnik Missiles in Belarus by 2025, First Used in Dnipro Attack

Dec 9, 2024, 07:45 AM

Russia has announced plans to deploy its hypersonic missile system, Oreshnik, in Belarus by the second half of 2025. President Vladimir Putin stated that the Oreshnik system has power comparable to nuclear weapons but without radioactive consequences. This decision comes as a response to U.S. and NATO actions, including the deployment of long-range ATACMS missiles and plans for medium-range missile systems in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Belarusian officials have echoed this stance, emphasizing the system's strategic importance. Russian officials claim the missile can target the entirety of Europe and NATO bases in the Middle East when launched from Belarus. The Oreshnik missile has reportedly been used for the first time in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, with no warhead attached. Maps illustrating its approach times to Western targets have been circulated in Russian and Belarusian media.