On September 16, a joint military exercise between Russia and Belarus, ended after 4 days in Belarus, attracting special attention from the international community. Tens of thousands of soldiers and many modern weapons systems were mobilized, the most prominent of which was the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile complex.
The Oreshnik is considered a new technology symbol of Russia, capable of reaching a speed of Mach 10 (about 12,300 km/h), penetrating advanced defense systems. With a range of 2,000 to 5,000km, the missile is capable of hitting targets in Europe from Russia or Belarus. Observers say this is a type of weapon designed to carry out both conventional attack and tactical nuclear warfare.
The Oreshnik, originally developed on the RS-26 Rubezh platform, was first tested in combat in November 2024 when Russia attacked an arms manufacturing facility in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. By August 2025, the first samples had been handed over to the army.
President Vladimir Putin stressed the possibility of mass production of this type of weapon, considering this a step forward to strengthen strategic deterrence capabilities.
In the Zapad 2025 exercise, the Oreshnik missile will not only be deployed as part of training but also send a direct message to NATO in the context of escalating tensions.
Mobile features make it easy for the system to change positions, increasing survival against leading attacks. A high-precision guidance system allows targeting political targets, commands or industrial centers.
With supersonic speed and complex trajectory, the Oreshnik is described as an unstoppable missile, defying modern defensive shields such as patriot or THAAD. Some Western intelligence sources are skeptical about the possibility of mass production due to technological limitations, but have acknowledged that this is a new threat to European security.
