ISW assessed the risks from Oreshnik in Belarus

The Kremlin's constant flaunting of the Oreshnik missile hardly indicates the development of particularly new means of deep strike, analysts believe.

The possible placement of Russian Oreshnik missiles in Belarus does not increase the immediate risks of medium-range ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine or NATO countries, despite increased "nuclear weapons rattling" on the part of the Kremlin. This is stated in the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published the day before.

It is indicated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin once again tried to show off the Oreshnik missile and Russian missile potential during a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the so-called Union State. And the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Lavrov, similarly tried to present Oreshnik's strike on the Dnipro on November 21 as Russia's readiness to use any means to prevent the West's strategic victory over the Russian Federation during an interview with Tucker Carlson on December 5.

"ISW continues to assess that the Kremlin's continued flaunting of the Oreshnik missile is unlikely to indicate the development of particularly new Russian deep strike capabilities," the report said.

Analysts believe that Moscow's possible placement of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus will not significantly change the threat to Ukraine and NATO, given that the Russians have long had nuclear weapons on the Russian mainland and in the Kaliningrad region, capable of striking targets in Ukraine and NATO countries.

Russian troops also regularly launch Iskander ballistic missiles, Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles and Kh-101 cruise missiles, which can be armed with nuclear warheads, over Ukraine, the Institute added.