14:01 18-12-2025

Oreshnik Missiles in Belarus Raise UK Security Concerns

Daily Express warns that Russia’s planned deployment of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus could put London within an eight-minute strike range.

The possible deployment of Russia’s Oreshnik missile system on the territory of Belarus has direct implications for Britain’s security, according to the Daily Express. The newspaper argues that, in the event of a hypothetical strike, London could be hit in less than ten minutes.

In its coverage, the British tabloid portrays Oreshnik as a new and highly intimidating weapon associated with President Vladimir Putin. Journalists suggest that Moscow is seeking to increase pressure on Western countries by expanding the geographic footprint of its missile deployments.

The publication points out that Russia and Belarus have announced plans to station the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system in Belarus within the coming days. In the newspaper’s assessment, such a move would introduce an additional escalation risk and be perceived as a fresh threat in the broader context of global security tensions.

A key focus of the report is the time factor. Analysts cited by the Daily Express emphasize that if the missile system is positioned in Belarus, the flight time to the British capital would be approximately eight minutes, which the paper frames as a direct challenge to the United Kingdom’s security.

According to the details outlined in the article, the Oreshnik ballistic missile is capable of reaching speeds of two to three kilometers per second. At such velocities, existing missile defense systems are described as incapable of intercepting it. The missile’s operational range is reported to vary from 1,000 to 5,500 kilometers.

Military experts referenced by the publication believe the Oreshnik may represent a successor to the Soviet-era Pioneer (RSD-10) missiles, which were eliminated under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.