From 700 to 5,500 km: Russian troops in Belarus control Oreshnik intermediate-range missile, which puts entire European continent in range

Russia has deployed the “Oreshnik” medium-range ballistic missile on the territory of Belarus, bringing it closer to Europe’s borders, said Oleh Katkov, Defense Express editor-in-chief, Kyiv24 TV channel reports. The missile’s minimum strike range is approximately 700 kilometers, posing a direct threat to the region.

This missile, launched against Ukraine's Dnipro in November 2024, can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Why Belarus, and what threat it poses

According to Katkov, for the Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka's regime, providing its territory for the deployment of Russian weapons, including nuclear-capable systems, has become routine.

“For the ‘Oreshnik’ missile to be able to reach all European countries, it needs to be deployed closer to them. Its maximum range is up to 5,500 kilometers, but the minimum engagement distance is 700 km,” the expert explained.

He noted that the distance from the farthest point of Belarus to Kyiv is about 660 km, meaning the Ukrainian capital formally falls within the missile’s minimum strike range.

Who controls the missiles and Lukashenka’s role

Katkov emphasized that only Russian military personnel service the Oreshnik missiles.

The Belarusian army has no direct access to this weaponry, and Belarus effectively serves as a launch platform for the deployment of Russian missile systems.

As a result, the deployment of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus is another element of nuclear and missile coercion against Europe, which the Kremlin continues to escalate amid its war against Ukraine.

On 17 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia’s nuclear forces will play a key role in “deterring an aggressor” and maintain the global balance of power. A few days later, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia and NATO had moved dangerously closer to a direct military confrontation.