Moscow/Mininsk | December 30, 2025 —
Russia has officially deployed its Orionik medium-range nuclear-capable missile system in Belarus and released photos and videos showing the mobile launch vehicles conducting exercises in forested areas. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that a total of 10 Orionik missile systems will be stationed in the country.
The Russian Defense Ministry shared the visuals on Tuesday, marking the first public release of the missile system’s operational images. The videos show mobile missile units maneuvering through terrain, highlighting their rapid deployment and concealment capabilities.
Missile Specifications
The Orionik is classified as a medium-range ballistic missile. According to the US Department of Defense, it is a variant of the RS-26 Rubezh, derived from Russia’s intercontinental ballistic missile program, with one stage removed to reduce its range. The missile measures approximately 15–18.5 meters in length, 1.9 meters in diameter, and is mounted on mobile vehicles for quick deployment.
Belarus’s Defense Ministry stated that the Orionik has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers, theoretically putting much of Europe within striking distance. Russia claims the missile could reach a Polish airbase in 11 minutes and NATO headquarters in Brussels in 17 minutes, though these figures have not been independently verified.
Background
Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced on December 17 that the Orionik missile system would be operational by the end of the year. Lukashenko stated on December 18 that the first system had already arrived in Belarus. Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov previously confirmed that one brigade was equipped with Orionik missiles in 2025.
The deployment of these missiles in Belarus is seen as a significant escalation in regional security dynamics, particularly for NATO countries in Europe, prompting concerns over rapid-response nuclear-capable missile capabilities near the alliance’s borders.
