By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Russia has released footage showing the deployment of its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system in Belarus, a move that could strengthen Moscow’s ability to target Europe in a potential future conflict, Aljazeera reported.

But the Russian State News Agency TASS reported on Tuesday that, this marks the first public display of the mobile Oreshnik systems. 

President Vladimir Putin has described the missiles as impossible to intercept, citing speeds that are more than 10 times the speed of sound.

Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov used his New Year’s greeting to confirm the missile’s deployment.

“The Russian Oreshnik missile systems entered combat duty in [Belarus]. This step is a clear confirmation of the effectiveness of the bilateral interstate treaty on security guarantees within the Union State, which entered into force in March,” the greeting message said, according to TASS.

It has been reported that, the deployment in a country bordering NATO members and Ukraine comes amid heightened tensions over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

But on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged that Ukraine had launched an attack on Putin’s Valdai residence in the Novgorod region of northwestern Russia.

Russia further threatened to retaliate against Ukraine after alleging that nearly 100 drones had targeted the home. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Russia’s claim.

Analysts note that stationing the Oreshnik missiles in Belarus could shorten the time for Russian nuclear weapons to reach European targets.