Belarus's Ministry of Defense announced that Russia's "Oreshnik" missile system has begun combat duty on Belarusian territory, the ministry reported.
Specialists in launch combat calculations, communications, security, energy supply, and mechanics-drivers of the missile complex underwent "retraining on modern training facilities" before taking up combat duty, according to the ministry's statement.
After preparing the complex for its intended use and verification, "Oreshnik" "began performing combat duty tasks" in designated areas of Belarus, the ministry noted.
Belarus's military department said all necessary conditions for accommodating Russian servicemen, their combat duty, and living arrangements were created in advance on the country's territory. Belarusian personnel are now "mastering new combat patrol areas," the statement added.
A day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a press conference with Polish President Karol Nawrocki that Ukraine knows the exact location where "Oreshnik" will be deployed in Belarus and is passing this information to partners.
"The transfer of 'Oreshnik' to the territory of Belarus is being completed. We understand where the deployment will be. We are transmitting information to our partners. I think partners themselves can assess this threat and understand how to respond to it," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president said his country had previously warned European and American partners that Russia would deploy "Oreshnik" on Belarusian territory.
"We showed the distance that 'Oreshnik' will operate at, this is a threat to many European countries, including Poland, Germany and other countries. We showed them this. It is impossible to shoot down 'Oreshnik' with drones. They used 'Oreshnik' on the territory of Ukraine, and we understand how to fight this," Zelenskyy stated.
Ukraine called on partners to impose sanctions against companies in Europe and other continents that sell components for "Oreshnik" through third countries, according to Zelenskyy.
"Without these components, Russia simply cannot develop the production of 'Oreshnik'. I don't see these imposed sanctions, to be honest, yet. We believe that Russia will continue to produce 'Oreshnik'. Thank God, she is not yet capable of producing much of it, whatever accusations she makes," the president said.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia is not deploying "Oreshnik" in Belarus without reason.
"If our partners and the US are making a lot of diplomatic efforts to end the war, can they equally pressure Russia not to deploy [it] closer to the borders with Poland. I believe this should be dealt with. Otherwise, it is difficult to understand why Russia attacks American air defense systems on the territory of Ukraine, why then partners do not draw conclusions about threats on the territory of Belarus, which will be controlled by the Russian Federation? On the first night of the full-scale invasion, missiles that killed our people also flew from Belarus," he said.
In September, Belarusian and Russian military forces practiced using "Oreshnik," drones, and modern combat methods during the "West-2025" exercises.
In late October, Lukashenka's press secretary Natalya Eismont reported that "Oreshnik" would be placed on combat duty in Belarus in December.
On 17 December, Kremlin head Vladimir Putin stated at an expanded meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry's collegium that the "Oreshnik" missile system would be placed on combat duty by the end of 2025.
On 18 December, Belarusian leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka declared that the Russian ballistic missile complex "Oreshnik" has been in Belarus since December 17 and is "assuming combat duty."
