Russia to Deploy New Oreshnik Hypersonic Missiles in Belarus by 2025

In a significant move likely to raise tensions with NATO, Russia has announced plans to deploy its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile system in Belarus by the end of 2025. The announcement came directly from President Vladimir Putin, who confirmed that the missile system has already entered military service and that deployment sites in Belarus have been selected.

Speaking alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a visit to Valaam Island, Putin said that preparations for deployment are underway and expected to be completed by year’s end. This marks a major step in Moscow’s strategy to strengthen its military posture near the borders of NATO countries.

The Oreshnik missile, named after the Russian word for “hazelnut tree,” reportedly made its combat debut in November 2024, when Russia struck a missile production facility in Dnipro, Ukraine. Military officials in Moscow claim the missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, and reaching speeds of up to Mach 10—a velocity that makes it extremely difficult for Western air defense systems to intercept.

Putin emphasized its capability, saying “multiple warheads plunge to a target at Mach 10 and are immune to being intercepted.” He added that a coordinated strike using several Oreshnik missiles, even with conventional warheads, would have devastation similar to that of a nuclear attack.

The missile’s hypersonic speed and maneuverability make it one of the most advanced systems in Russia’s arsenal, representing a growing threat to countries supporting Ukraine with long-range weapons. In a stark warning, Putin hinted at using the Oreshnik in counterstrikes beyond Ukraine’s borders if NATO-supplied weapons are used to hit Russian territory. “If Kyiv uses NATO missiles to strike us, we could respond using systems like Oreshnik—even outside Ukraine,” he said.

The decision to place the Oreshnik in Belarus—a country that borders Ukraine and several NATO members—adds a new layer to the region’s already high military tension. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Belarus has allowed increased Russian military presence, including the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

In 2023, Belarus and Russia signed a security pact that effectively brought Belarus under Russia’s nuclear umbrella. President Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for over 30 years, claimed in late 2024 that his country already hosts “several dozen” Russian nuclear weapons.

The planned deployment of Oreshnik hypersonic missiles further solidifies Belarus’s role as a forward operating base for Russia, giving Moscow faster access to launch advanced weapon systems near NATO’s eastern flank.

As the war in Ukraine grinds on and tensions between Russia and the West remain high, the arrival of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus could further escalate the arms race in Eastern Europe—and raise fresh concerns across Western capitals.