The nuclear-capable weapon can carry multiple individually targetable warheads that retain control at hypersonic speeds<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s cutting-edge nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system has entered service in Belarus, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced.
\nIn a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said the medium-range system has officially \u201cassumed combat duty.\u201d It also released the first-ever official footage of the system, showing its delivery and installation in Belarus, along with a ceremony marking the commencement of its combat duty.
\n\u201cAll conditions for combat duty and accommodation of Russian personnel were prepared in advance in Belarus,\u201d the ministry noted, adding that crews responsible for launch, communications, security, and power supply \u201cunderwent retraining on modern facilities\u201d before entering service. The personnel are now exploring new patrol areas and conducting reconnaissance.
\nUnveiled in November 2024, an Oreshnik carrying conventional warheads struck a major military plant in Ukraine in what Moscow called a successful \u201ccombat test.\u201d It is capable of delivering multiple independently targetable warheads (MIRVs) at hypersonic speeds, with each warhead maintaining guidance and maneuverability even during the final approach, making interception extremely difficult.<\/p>\n
Russian officials have likened its conventional destructive power to that of a low-yield nuclear strike, highlighting its dual strategic and tactical potential. By comparison, Western militaries currently lack a directly equivalent hypersonic MIRV-capable system, giving Oreshnik a unique edge in speed, maneuverability, and multi-target strike capability.<\/p>\n
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Up to ten systems are slated for deployment in Belarus under an agreement reached between Minsk and Moscow shortly after the missile\u2019s initial combat test.
\nBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced in a parliamentary address this month that the Oreshnik systems had arrived in Belarus on December 17. Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Muraveyko said last week the combat patrol areas are set and the system is fully operational and ready for use.
\nRussian President Vladimir Putin, in a mid-December address to the Defense Ministry, said\u00a0the Oreshnik will also enter combat in Russia before the end of the year. He emphasized that the system is part of Russia\u2019s new weaponry meant to\u00a0\u201censure strategic parity, security, and global positions of Russia for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The nuclear-capable weapon can carry multiple individually targetable warheads that retain control at hypersonic speeds Russia\u2019s cutting-edge nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system has entered service in Belarus, the Defense Ministry…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25223,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t