Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has officially entered active service in Belarus, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Tuesday, as U.S.-led efforts to broker a resolution to the nearly four-year war in Ukraine reach a critical stage.

A ministry video showed mobile intermediate-range ballistic missile vehicles conducting forest maneuvers as part of combat training. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier confirmed the arrival of up to 10 Oreshnik systems in the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin had said the missiles would enter combat duty before year-end, warning that Moscow would pursue further gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies rejected Russia’s peace demands.

The announcement coincides with high-profile U.S.-mediated diplomacy. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida over the weekend, describing Kyiv and Moscow as “closer than ever” to a deal, though major disputes remain over troop withdrawals and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Putin previously tested a conventional Oreshnik strike in Ukraine in November 2024. He claims the missile’s multiple warheads reach speeds of up to Mach 10 and are virtually unstoppable, with conventional strikes potentially as devastating as nuclear ones. Moscow has warned the West that the missiles could target nations assisting Ukraine with long-range attacks on Russia.

Belarusian authorities said the Oreshnik has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). Russian media highlighted it could reach a Polish air base in 11 minutes and NATO headquarters in Brussels in 17. The missile’s payload—nuclear or conventional—cannot be verified before impact.

The deployment underscores Belarus’ growing military and political dependence on Russia. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya criticized the move, while the country’s history of hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons and the 2024 revised Russian nuclear doctrine further extend Moscow’s influence.

Source: AP