Nuclear-Capable Oreshnik Missiles Have Entered Active Service, Moscow Says

The weapons were deployed to Russia’s ally Belarus during a short ceremony on Dec. 30.Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 21, 2025. Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP12/30/2025|Updated: 12/30/2025Moscow’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has entered active service, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced on Dec. 30.Russian troops held a brief ceremony marking the occasion in Belarus, where the missiles have been deployed, the ministry added in a statement post on Telegram.Guy Birchall is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of national stories with a particular interest in freedom of expression and social issues.Author’s Selected Articles