Belarus will soon deploy Russia’s Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile system, expected in December, according to the TASS news agency. This decision, confirmed by Natalya Eismont, spokesperson for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, follows extensive preparations nearing completion.
The deployment is perceived as a strategic response to what Lukashenko termed Western escalation. The Oreshnik missiles recently participated in joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises, highlighting the growing defense collaboration between the two nations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the missile’s inaugural use against Ukraine in November 2024, in retaliation for Western-backed missile attacks on Russian soil. While the Oreshnik is claimed to be unstoppable and highly destructive, Western experts remain skeptical of these capabilities.