Belarus marks start of combat duty for Oreshnik missile unit Video

A solemn ceremony was held in Belarus on December 30 to officially mark the beginning of combat duty for a newly deployed unit equipped with the Oreshnik mobile ground-based missile system. The event took place with the raising of the Strategic Missile Forces flag during a military ritual, which also included a formal change of the guard.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the combat crews, along with specialists in communications, security, power supply, mechanics, and drivers, have undergone rigorous retraining using state-of-the-art training equipment, Caliber.Az reports. 

The training was aimed at preparing the personnel for their roles in the operation of the advanced missile system.

The Russian military has confirmed that all necessary conditions for the effective deployment and accommodation of its personnel in Belarus have been met. As part of their mission, the unit's personnel are currently familiarising themselves with new combat patrol areas, ensuring full operational readiness.

The Oreshnik was first used in November 2024, when Moscow said it struck a plant in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in response to Kyiv’s use of Western-supplied long-range weapons on Russian territory.

Minsk said in September that Russian and Belarusian forces practiced planning for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons and the deployment of Oreshnik during the Zapad-2025 joint exercises held in the country.

In March 2023, Putin announced that Russia would deploy tactical nuclear weapons and complete the construction of a special storage facility in neighboring Belarus.

By Sabina Mammadli