A model believed to represent Russia’s newest “Oreshnik” ballistic missile system has appeared on the desk of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko.
The image, which surfaced during a meeting in Minsk, shows a scale model of a large wheeled launcher — reportedly mounted on an MZKT-79291 chassis with a 12×12 wheel configuration — widely believed to correspond to the RS-26 “Oreshnik.”
The missile system, which Russian officials describe as a medium-range ballistic platform, is intended to operate below the 5,500-kilometer range limit defined by international arms control regimes. However, precise technical specifications of the system remain classified, and it is unclear whether the missile is compliant with any bilateral or multilateral agreements following the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
The “Oreshnik” system has been a subject of speculation among defense analysts since its first reported test. Its appearance in Belarus comes amid growing military cooperation between Moscow and Minsk and signals a deepening strategic partnership between the two allies in the face of heightened tensions with NATO.
During remarks to journalists on the sidelines of the Global Atomic Forum in Moscow, Lukashenko confirmed that the “Oreshnik” system is now being transferred to Belarus. When asked whether the system had already arrived, the Belarusian leader replied, “It’s already on the way. Everything will be fine.”
Lukashenko had earlier announced plans to host the new missile system on Belarusian territory before the end of 2025.
“By the end of this year, the newest Russian hypersonic ballistic missile system ‘Oreshnik’ will be deployed in Belarus,” he said on July 1 during a ceremony marking the country’s Independence Day.
The deployment represents a major expansion of Russian strategic capabilities on NATO’s eastern flank, further embedding Belarus into Moscow’s broader defense posture and potentially altering the security balance in Eastern Europe.
Although details about the “Oreshnik” program remain closely guarded, the missile conducted its first experimental launch under combat conditions on November 21, 2024, during a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. That makes the RS-26 one of the few new-generation Russian ballistic missiles to have been used in an active conflict scenario prior to its official deployment.
The system’s deployment in Belarus could extend the reach of Russian strategic forces deeper into Europe and the Baltic region.