Lukashenko threatens NATO over Russia's Oreshnik missile system
Photo: Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus' president (Getty Images)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has threatened NATO countries and Ukraine with the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, according to BelTA.
He was commenting on remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russian Oreshnik missiles stationed in Belarus should be considered legitimate targets.
"I’m not saying that tomorrow we will strike Vilnius, Warsaw, or Kyiv with the Oreshnik. God forbid. That’s not our task. Our task is to protect our country. And if you don’t want the Oreshnik to strike, then don’t interfere with us — neither from Ukraine, nor from Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia. Let’s resolve issues in a civilized way," Lukashenko said.
He added that he would not just watch if neighboring countries consider targets on Belarusian territory to be legitimate.
"70 kilometers, 200 kilometers. We have the means to reach. So I would advise them not to rattle their tongues or make empty threats. If they consider the Oreshnik a legitimate target — fine," Lukashenko said.
He also noted that the Oreshnik is a mobile weapon system. According to him, it can also deploy decoys.
"In other words, ten vehicles will move along the route. From above, it will look like ten Oreshnik systems, but only one will be real. For any poison, there is always an antidote," the president said.
What Zelenskyy said
In late February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the Oreshnik in Belarus should be considered a legitimate target for NATO countries.
He also noted that the entire Oreshnik system has not yet been deployed to Belarus, but the necessary equipment has already been delivered there.
