Russia unveils Oreshnik missile system reportedly deployed in Belarus — video

On Dec. 26, Reuters reported that Russia had likely deployed the Oreshnik system at a former air base in eastern Belarus. Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (California, U.S.) and Decker Eveleth of the research and analysis organization CNA (Virginia, U.S.) said their conclusion was based on commercial satellite imagery from Planet Labs.

On Oct. 31, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said the Russian Oreshnik would go on combat duty in December. He claimed the move was meant to “demonstrate readiness to respond in case of escalation.”

“They must understand that we can strike if things go badly,” Lukashenko said — likely referring to Western countries.

On Dec. 13, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service chief Oleh Ivashchenko said Russia was preparing to deploy the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in Belarus “with Europe in mind.”

On Dec. 18, Lukashenko again claimed that the Oreshnik system had already been placed on combat duty in Belarus.

On Dec. 19, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was aware of the missile system’s location in Belarus.

“The Oreshnik’s transfer to Belarus is nearly complete. We understand where it will be. Where it will be deployed,” Zelenskyy said. “We’re sharing this information with our partners. I think our partners are capable of evaluating this threat and deciding how to respond.”