Russia has announced the deployment of its latest nuclear-capable missile system to neighbouring Belarus, a move it frames as a response to an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's residence. The development marks a significant escalation in rhetoric and military posturing amid the ongoing war.
Choreographed Display of Military Might
Footage released by the Russian defence ministry showed the new Oreshnik missile system being transported through a snowy forest. The video depicted soldiers camouflaging combat vehicles and raising a flag at an airbase in eastern Belarus, close to the Russian border. This deployment is seen by analysts as a symbolic gesture designed to intimidate European nations and prepare the Russian public for a potential further escalation.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that ten Oreshnik systems would be stationed in his country. The move effectively reduces the flight time for a Russian missile to reach an EU capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the systems were entering active service during a meeting with his generals on Monday, where he reaffirmed his intention to capture more Ukrainian territory, including the southern city of Zaporizhzhia.
Unverified Claims and Diplomatic Fallout
The missile deployment followed claims from Moscow that Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Sunday night targeting Putin's palace in the Novgorod region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned of prepared "reprisals" against Kyiv.
However, the Kremlin has provided no evidence to support its allegations. Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated on Tuesday that no proof would be offered as all missiles were allegedly shot down. Independent Russian media outlet Sota reported that local residents heard no explosions or anti-aircraft fire, and no typical visual evidence of such an attack emerged online.
Ukraine has firmly denied the accusation. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the story a fabrication, urging the international community to ignore it. He expressed particular irritation with India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates for expressing concern over the unverified reports, stating such reactions "only play into Russian propaganda".
International Reactions and Peace Efforts
The incident has stirred international diplomacy. Former US President Donald Trump angrily endorsed Russia's account, stating Putin had told him about the attack in a phone call. This prompted concern from commentators like Professor Phillips O'Brien of the University of St Andrews, who warned that security pledges are meaningless if Western leaders are willing to accept Russian claims without evidence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested Russia was spreading "fake news" in response to his "fairly successful" meeting with Trump in Florida over the weekend, where they discussed a 20-point peace plan. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet European allies in France on 6 January to discuss Europe's role in a potential peacekeeping operation.
Amid the high-level claims, Ukrainian commanders reported that Russian kamikaze drones regularly fly over a government residence used by Zelenskyy on their way to Kyiv, underscoring the persistent and brutal reality of the conflict on the ground.
