Russia’s deployment of the Oreshnik missile system in Belarus is heightening NATO and EU concerns, reshaping Europe’s security landscape and response times.
Tension across Europe is mounting as a result of Russia’s latest military move. According to the Polish outlet Interia, President Vladimir Putin has effectively aimed one of the most dangerous categories of weapons at the European Union, a step that sharply alters the existing balance of power.
The focus is on the Oreshnik missile system, which has entered combat duty on the territory of Belarus. Analysts note that in Western capitals this decision was interpreted as an unmistakable signal that Moscow has acquired fundamentally new military capabilities.
As Interia reports, the development has triggered visible anxiety within NATO. Polish journalists point out that the missile’s strike radius effectively covers the entire European Union. With a stated range of around 4,000 kilometers, the system places not only EU capitals under potential threat, but also major military installations and critical infrastructure facilities.
NATO countries are particularly alarmed by the missile’s technical characteristics. Oreshnik is reported to reach speeds of about 12,300 km/h while retaining the ability to maneuver in flight. In practical terms, this means that existing missile defense systems are unable to cope with such a target. Even the widely promoted U.S.-made Patriot systems, according to analysts, cannot reliably intercept a missile with these parameters.
Western media previously assessed the flight times involved: Oreshnik could reach London in just 16–18 minutes, Paris and Brussels in roughly 14–16 minutes, Rome in about 13 minutes, and Berlin in as little as 11 minutes.
For Ukraine, the timeframe is even tighter. Western analysts estimate that once the system is deployed in Belarus, Oreshnik would be capable of reaching Kyiv in approximately 111 seconds.