Lukashenko says Oreshnik missile system is already on combat duty in Belarus
Photo: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (Getty Images)
Belarus has put the Oreshnik missile system on combat duty, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said during an address to the Belarusian people and parliament.
According to Lukashenko, the deployment is part of close military cooperation between Minsk and Moscow.
He emphasized that Belarus and Russia are implementing a "set of strategic deterrence measures," which includes the presence of Russian military forces on Belarusian territory. In case of escalation, he said, tens of thousands of Russian troops from western regions of Russia could be involved in combat operations.
Lukashenko also reminded that tactical nuclear weapons are already stationed in Belarus, and now the new missile system is being added to the country's arsenal.
"The first positions for the Oreshnik are already prepared. The system has been with us since yesterday and is now on combat duty," he said.
Separately, the Belarusian leader responded to criticism about the necessity of deploying such weapons. Opponents, he said, argue that Belarus automatically becomes a priority target in the event of conflict. Lukashenko urged people not to pay attention to these warnings. He drew a parallel with the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, which was also heavily criticized at the time.
"If someone fights against us, they will strike not at symbolic targets, but at decision-making centers. That is why we are doing everything to prevent war," he said.
The announcement about Oreshnik coming on combat duty comes amid heightened military rhetoric from Minsk and Belarus' growing dependence on Russia for security. The international community has repeatedly expressed concern over the stationing of Russian nuclear and missile weapons on Belarusian territory.
Russia used Oreshnik against Ukraine
Earlier, Russia used the Oreshnik missile during an attack on Ukrainian territory. The strike occurred on November 21 last year, when Russian forces hit a defense plant in Dnipro with a missile without a warhead, experts noted.
Regarding the deployment of Oreshnik in Belarus, the Belarusian leader publicly showcased a model of the Russian medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik for the first time on September 30 and stated that it would be in the country by the end of the year.
