Moscvow: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans on Friday to station the advanced Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missiles in Belarus by the latter half of next year, aligning with growing military cooperation between the two allies.
Speaking at a summit in Minsk, where he and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a mutual defense pact, Putin responded to Lukashenko's request for the deployment. "Given the agreement on security guarantees using all available forces and means, I find it appropriate to deploy the Oreshnik systems on Belarusian territory," Putin stated.
He added that this timeline aligns with the ramp-up of serial production in Russia and the integration of the Oreshnik into Russia's strategic arsenal.
Russia first launched the Oreshnik missile on November 21, targeting Ukraine's Dnipro. The strike came after Ukraine employed U.S.-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadows to hit Russian territory, a move Putin framed as an escalation endorsed by Western powers.
Putin warned that the Oreshnik could be used again to target key decision-making centers in Kyiv if Ukraine continues long-range strikes. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized in a recent interview that the missile’s deployment serves as a stern warning to the West.
Boasting capabilities that include multiple warheads capable of striking diverse targets simultaneously, the Oreshnik is claimed by Putin to be virtually unstoppable, with destructive power comparable to a nuclear weapon even with a conventional warhead. However, Western analysts have questioned these assertions, suggesting the system builds on previously shelved intercontinental missile technology.
Under the new defense treaty, Belarus will have the authority to determine potential targets for the Oreshnik stationed within its borders, Putin said. This development significantly heightens the strategic stakes, as Belarus shares borders with NATO members Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The deployment comes alongside recent changes in Russia’s nuclear policy, which broadened the scenarios under which nuclear strikes could be authorized and extended Moscow’s nuclear umbrella to include Belarus.
Belarus, which had its nuclear arsenal removed after the Soviet Union's collapse, began hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons last year. Lukashenko has asserted that any use of these weapons would require his explicit consent.
The stationing of hypersonic missiles in Belarus signals a further escalation in the standoff between Russia and NATO. While Putin emphasized the move as a means to "reliably protect the security of Russia and Belarus," it reinforces fears of an expanding conflict.
The Oreshnik’s deployment and mutual defense pact underline Moscow’s intent to deepen its military presence in Belarus, creating a fortified front against Western influence in Eastern Europe.