Lukashenko Announces Advanced Weaponry Near NATO Borders as Moscow Signals Strategic Counter to Western Arms
Belarus to Deploy Russian Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile System Amid Rising Tensions
Belarus is preparing to receive an advanced Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile system, the Oreshnik, according to President Alexander Lukashenko. During a press conference held on Sunday alongside Belarus’ presidential election, he announced the imminent deployment of the system, suggesting it would initially be positioned near Smolensk, a Russian city approximately 60 kilometers east of the Belarusian border. Lukashenko emphasized that the location could change in the future but indicated the decision was influenced by the missile’s technical capabilities.
Lukashenko revealed that Belarus had secured a collaborative agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to expedite the delivery of the Oreshnik, prioritizing its deployment to Belarus ahead of Russia’s own installations. However, he clarified that specific timelines for the transfer remain undetermined. The president also addressed earlier proposals to acquire up to ten Oreshnik systems, acknowledging the impracticality of such a large-scale transfer due to economic constraints and Russia’s own defense needs. He asserted that even a single system would sufficiently bolster Belarus’ security.
The Oreshnik, capable of carrying nuclear warheads and achieving hypersonic speeds, was first used operationally in November 2023 to strike Ukraine’s Yuzhmash defense facility in Dnipro. Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the missile’s unmatched velocity—ten times the speed of sound—and its ability to penetrate existing air defenses. The weapon’s deployment followed repeated warnings from Moscow over Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range arms against Russian territory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later linked the Oreshnik’s activation to the U.S. decision to station mid-range missile systems in Europe.
This development builds on Belarus’ earlier integration into Russia’s strategic defense framework, including the 2023 placement of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. Lukashenko framed these measures as a counterbalance to NATO’s nuclear assets in Europe, citing concerns over regional security dynamics.