Minsk, September 17, 2025 – The Belarusian Ministry of Defense has confirmed the deployment of the Russian Oreshnik medium-range missile system as part of the joint Zapad-2025 exercises. The drills, which took place from September 12-16 in Belarus and Western Russia, included planning and simulation of the system's use, capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. This move is interpreted as a clear warning to Europe and underscores the close military cooperation between Russia and Belarus as NATO strengthens its eastern flank.
The Zapad-2025 exercises, which mobilized approximately 13,000 troops, dozens of aircraft, and hundreds of combat vehicles, simulated the defense against an attack on the Union State – the closest alliance between Minsk and Moscow. Belarusian officers practiced assessing and deploying the mobile Oreshnik system, which was first tested in Ukraine against Dnipropetrovsk in November 2024. President Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the presence of nuclear weapons and modern systems like Oreshnik demonstrates readiness without acting as a threat. The maneuvers also included scenarios with non-strategic nuclear weapons, making the drills among the most extensive since 2021.
The Oreshnik system, a hypersonic medium-range missile with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers, is designed to carry multiple warheads and reach speeds of Mach 10. It is based on the RS-26 Rubezh and is resistant to modern NATO air defense systems such as Patriot or Aegis. Russia plans to station the system in Belarus by the end of 2025, with Moscow retaining control but allowing Minsk to select targets. This expands the threat to all of Europe, as the missile could reach targets in EU and NATO countries without directly affecting the United States.
The exercises follow tensions, including the incident with Russian drones in Polish airspace on September 10, which prompted Warsaw to close its border with Belarus. Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia responded with their own drills and border security measures, while NATO observers from the US, Turkey, and Hungary participated. Western intelligence agencies estimate the actual troop numbers to be higher than the officially stated 13,000 and warn of potential escalation, similar to the Zapad-2021 exercises before the invasion of Ukraine. Belarusian authorities invite transparency and have invited OSCE states as observers, but emphasize the defensive nature of the exercises.
Reactions and geopolitical implications
In Europe, the deployment is seen as an escalation that forces NATO to reinforce its eastern flank. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the maneuvers "aggressive" and warned of their proximity to the border. The US, which classifies Oreshnik as a regional threat, monitored the exercises and emphasizes that the system is not directed against them, but at Eurasian targets such as NATO's eastern flank. Russia and Belarus justify the deployment as a response to NATO militarization, including exercises like Steadfast Defender. Experts doubt the mass production of the system and see it primarily as a deterrent.
On platforms like X, the deployment is controversially discussed: some posts see it as a warning to the West, others warn of a new front in Ukraine. The exercises underscore the military integration of the Union State and could influence negotiations between Trump and Putin.
Source: Belarusian Ministry of Defense, Reuters, ABC News, Ukrainska Pravda, and other media
Note: This report is based on the announcement by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense as well as reports from Western and Russian-language media. Further details on Zapad-2025 are available on official pages.
