U.S. researchers, after analyzing satellite imagery, have inferred that Russia is likely deploying new nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missiles at a decommissioned airbase in eastern Belarus. This move would enhance Russia’s ability to launch missiles across Europe in the future.

As reported by Reuters on Friday, December 26, the assessment by two U.S. researchers aligns broadly with findings from U.S. intelligence agencies.

Following a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in December last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia planned to deploy the Oreshnik hypersonic missiles, with a maximum range of 5,500 kilometers, in Belarus in the second half of 2025. Last week, Lukashenko revealed that the first Oreshnik missile had been deployed without disclosing its location. He added that up to 10 such missiles would eventually be stationed in Belarus.

Jeffrey Lewis, a military expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California, and Decker Eveleth, a researcher at the Washington-based think tank CNA, identified the potential deployment site in Belarus by analyzing images captured by U.S. Earth-imaging company Planet Labs between August and November this year.

The two experts said they are 90% certain that Oreshnik missile launchers will be deployed at the decommissioned airbase near Krichev, approximately 307 kilometers east of Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

According to their assessment, the base can only accommodate three launchers, while additional ones may be deployed elsewhere.

The Russian and Belarusian embassies in Washington, the White House, and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency have declined to comment on the reports.

Russia first test-fired an Oreshnik missile at Ukraine in November 2024. Putin has claimed that such missiles can travel over 10 times the speed of sound, making them impossible to intercept.

Experts argue that the deployment of Oreshnik missiles underscores the Kremlin’s growing reliance on nuclear deterrence to deter NATO member states from supplying Ukraine with weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia.

John Foreman, an expert at the Chatham House, stated that Putin’s plan to deploy hypersonic missiles in Belarus, which is closer to Western Europe, aims to extend Russia’s missile strike range across the European continent. The move can also be seen as Russia’s response to the U.S. plan to deploy conventional missiles in Germany next year.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Telegram on Friday that Russia is using apartment buildings in Belarus to attack targets in Ukraine, thereby evading Kyiv’s defense systems. Southern Belarus shares a border with northwestern Ukraine.

Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had discovered that Belarus had installed antennas and other equipment on residential buildings near the border, such as on the rooftops of civilian houses, to guide Russian drones in attacking targets in western Ukraine.

U.S. researchers, after analyzing satellite imagery, have inferred that Russia is likely deploying new nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missiles at a decommissioned airbase in eastern Belarus. This move would enhance Russia’s ability to launch missiles across Europe in the future.

As reported by Reuters on Friday, December 26, the assessment by two U.S. researchers aligns broadly with findings from U.S. intelligence agencies.

Following a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in December last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia planned to deploy the Oreshnik hypersonic missiles, with a maximum range of 5,500 kilometers, in Belarus in the second half of 2025. Last week, Lukashenko revealed that the first Oreshnik missile had been deployed without disclosing its location. He added that up to 10 such missiles would eventually be stationed in Belarus.

Jeffrey Lewis, a military expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California, and Decker Eveleth, a researcher at the Washington-based think tank CNA, identified the potential deployment site in Belarus by analyzing images captured by U.S. Earth-imaging company Planet Labs between August and November this year.

The two experts said they are 90% certain that Oreshnik missile launchers will be deployed at the decommissioned airbase near Krichev, approximately 307 kilometers east of Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

According to their assessment, the base can only accommodate three launchers, while additional ones may be deployed elsewhere.

The Russian and Belarusian embassies in Washington, the White House, and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency have declined to comment on the reports.

Russia first test-fired an Oreshnik missile at Ukraine in November 2024. Putin has claimed that such missiles can travel over 10 times the speed of sound, making them impossible to intercept.

Experts argue that the deployment of Oreshnik missiles underscores the Kremlin’s growing reliance on nuclear deterrence to deter NATO member states from supplying Ukraine with weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia.

John Foreman, an expert at the Chatham House, stated that Putin’s plan to deploy hypersonic missiles in Belarus, which is closer to Western Europe, aims to extend Russia’s missile strike range across the European continent. The move can also be seen as Russia’s response to the U.S. plan to deploy conventional missiles in Germany next year.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Telegram on Friday that Russia is using apartment buildings in Belarus to attack targets in Ukraine, thereby evading Kyiv’s defense systems. Southern Belarus shares a border with northwestern Ukraine.

Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had discovered that Belarus had installed antennas and other equipment on residential buildings near the border, such as on the rooftops of civilian houses, to guide Russian drones in attacking targets in western Ukraine.