Moscow has deployed hypersonic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads in Belarus, drawing scrutiny from the West as tensions rise over the war in Ukraine.

Russia releases video showing its deployment Oreshnik Belarus’ hypersonic missile system, a move that could enhance Moscow’s ability to target Europe in a potential future conflict.

Russian state news agency TASS reported on Tuesday that this marked the first public demonstration of the mobile Oreshnik system. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the missiles were impossible to intercept and traveled at more than 10 times the speed of sound.

Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Grizlov confirmed the missile deployment in his New Year’s address.

According to the TASS news agency, the greeting read: “The Russian Oreshnik missile system entered combat duty (in Belarus). This step clearly confirms the validity of the bilateral treaty on internal security of the alliance countries, which entered into force in March.”

The deployment comes amid deployments to countries bordering NATO members and Ukraine Tensions rise About Russia’s war in Ukraine.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Ukraine had launched an attack on Putin’s Valdai residence in Russia’s northwest Novgorod region.

Russia has threaten to retaliate The United States launched an attack on Ukraine after claiming nearly 100 drones struck the house. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Russia’s claims.

Analysts pointed out that the deployment of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus may shorten the time for Russian nuclear weapons to reach European targets.

nuclear deterrence strategy

Western analysts believe that this move shows that Moscow relies on nuclear deterrence to prevent NATO from supporting Ukraine.

Two U.S. researchers told Reuters the video confirmed an earlier satellite-based identification that the Krichev 6 air base in question was the likely location of the missile. Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute and Decker Eveleth of the Virginia-based CNA Research and Analysis Group said a building in the video matched images taken by commercial satellite company Planet Labs in November. They credit Russian military blogger Dmitry Kornev for first connecting the video with satellite imagery and publishing the results on X.

Although the video does not reveal the exact location, it shows the mobile launcher traveling on a forest road, staff camouflaging the system, and a senior Russian officer declaring the missiles officially on combat missions. Light snow falls and training and reconnaissance routines are on display.

In November 2024, Moscow conducted a test of conventionally armed Oreshnik (Russian for “hazel”) against a target in Ukraine. Putin said the missile’s destructive power would be comparable to that of a nuclear weapon, even if equipped with a conventional warhead. The system reportedly has a range of up to 5,500 kilometers (3,418 miles) and could theoretically strike Europe or the western United States.

Doubt from the West

Some Western officials have questioned the missile’s actual effectiveness on the battlefield. One US source said in December 2024 that Oreshnik was not considered a game changer.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin who has been in contact with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, had previously confirmed the missile installation. He said no more than a dozen Oreshniks would be deployed, a move his defense minister said was a response to what they called Western aggression.

While Lukashenko has allowed Russian troops to launch operations from Belarus into Ukraine in 2022, Belarusian troops have not yet been sent to fight alongside Russian forces.

European reaction

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed Moscow’s military posture in his annual New Year’s address.

“We are increasingly seeing that Russian aggression was and is part of a plan to target all of Europe,” he said, noting the daily threats of sabotage, espionage and cyberattacks.

Merz also spoke of the need for Europe to act independently as the US partnership becomes more uncertain under Trump.

“For us Europeans, this means that we must defend and defend our interests more strongly on our own,” he said.

He added: “This could be a decisive year for our country and Europe. A year in which Germany and Europe will reconnect with new strength to decades of peace, freedom and prosperity.”