Short-range ballistic missiles in the context of Theatre ballistic missile

A ballistic missile is a type of missile that follows a ballistic trajectory and is powered only during a relatively brief initial period—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) typically stay within the Earth's atmosphere, while most larger missiles travel outside the atmosphere. The type of ballistic missile with the greatest range is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The largest ICBMs are capable of full orbital flight.

These missiles are in a distinct category from cruise missiles, which are aerodynamically guided in powered flight and thus restricted to the atmosphere.

Since 2023, Russia has claimed to have stationed nuclear weapons in Belarus. As of 2025, there is no conclusive open-source evidence that Russian nuclear warheads and gravity bombs themselves are being stored in Belarus. If they are, the most likely location is a Cold War-era depot near Asipovichy. Russia has also provided nuclear delivery systems and training to Belarusian forces in the form of Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles and modification and training for Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft and crews to employ nuclear gravity bombs.

Belarus joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear-weapons-state in 1994.