Belarus deploys Russia’s nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles amid tensions with West
Belarus has started deploying Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system on its territory, a move Moscow says will bolster regional security and deter further Western military escalation.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry on Tuesday released video footage showing mobile launchers and missile crews operating in forested areas, with troops camouflaging the systems and conducting routine combat preparations.
A senior military officer confirmed in the footage that the missile systems are now officially on combat duty, though their exact location was not disclosed.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced earlier this month that the intermediate-range ballistic missile system had been deployed as part of joint security arrangements between Minsk and Moscow.
The Oreshnik missile system, which Russia successfully tested in November 2024 using a conventionally armed variant, is designed to evade interception due to its extreme speed, reportedly exceeding Mach 10.
President Vladimir Putin has previously said the missile’s performance makes it effectively immune to existing air-defense systems.
Western military analysts have acknowledged that the deployment enhances Russia’s ability to respond rapidly to threats across Europe.
Citing satellite imagery, US researchers claim the missiles may be stationed at a former airbase in eastern Belarus.
Russian and Belarusian officials have repeatedly described the deployment as defensive, aimed at preserving strategic balance and preventing further escalation.
Minsk has said the presence of the Oreshnik system serves as a stabilizing factor amid growing military pressure from NATO.
Belarus has deepened military cooperation with Russia since Moscow launched its "special military operation” in Ukraine nearly four years ago.
Lukashenko has said the deployment of advanced Russian weapons systems on Belarusian soil is intended to protect national sovereignty and deter external aggression.
Moscow has also warned that any further attempts to threaten Russia's territorial integrity will be met with decisive and technologically advanced countermeasures.
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