Russia has deployed nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missiles in Belarus, confirmed by Minsk’s Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin on December 26, 2025, with systems entering combat duty by month-end at the Krichev airbase, as revealed by U.S. satellite imagery analyzed December 27. Putin announced production and Belarus placement in August 2025, first tested against Ukraine in November 2024, extending Moscow’s reach across Europe amid NATO buildup. From India’s strategic lens, this escalation—pairing with tactical nukes since 2024—bolsters Russia’s deterrence against Western arms to Kyiv, risks New START expiry in 2026, and heightens Eurasian flashpoints, compelling Delhi to recalibrate multi-alignment amid global nuclear brinkmanship.