Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that its nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has now officially entered active combat service. The announcement comes at a time when peace talks are underway between Russia and Ukraine. According to the Defense Ministry, these missiles have been deployed in neighboring Belarus, where troops also held a brief ceremony to mark the occasion. However, the ministry did not clarify the total number of missiles deployed nor did it share other technical details.
Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated in early December that the Oreshnik missile would be inducted into combat service this month. In a meeting with top military officials, Putin warned that Moscow would further strengthen its military presence if Ukraine and its Western allies reject Russia’s terms. This development comes at a time when US President Donald Trump is actively pursuing a peace deal. Trump recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida and claimed that the two countries are closer than ever to a peace agreement. However, he also acknowledged that months-long negotiations could fail.
Several key issues remain unresolved in the peace talks, including the withdrawal of troops and the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. Russia first used the Oreshnik missile against Ukraine in November 2024, targeting a factory in Dnipro that manufactured missiles during the Soviet era. The medium-range Oreshnik missiles have a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. Such weapons were banned under a Soviet-era treaty, but both the US and Russia withdrew from the treaty in 2019.