Russia Announces Deployment of Oreshnik Hypersonic Missiles in Belarus by 2025
President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia's new hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, has entered military service and will be stationed in Belarus by the end of 2025. This development marks a significant escalation in tensions between Moscow and NATO, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Putin, speaking with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Valaam Island near St. Petersburg, revealed that deployment locations in Belarus have already been chosen. He noted that preparatory work is underway and is expected to conclude by the end of the year. "The first series of Oreshniks and their systems have been produced and entered military service," Putin stated.
The Oreshnik missile, which takes its name from the Russian term for hazelnut tree, reportedly saw its combat debut in November when it was used against a missile production facility in Dnipro, Ukraine. Russian officials assert that the missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads and can travel at speeds up to Mach 10, making it difficult for Western missile defense systems to intercept.
Putin highlighted the missile's destructive power, claiming that its multiple warheads, which reach targets at speeds of up to Mach 10, are difficult to intercept. He stated that deploying several of these missiles in a conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack.
The Russian leader also issued a warning to NATO countries providing long-range weapons to Ukraine, indicating that Russia might use Oreshnik missiles in retaliatory strikes beyond Ukrainian territory.
"If Kyiv uses NATO-supplied missiles to strike Russia, we could respond using systems like Oreshnik, even beyond Ukraine," Putin cautioned.
Belarus, sharing a 673-mile border with Ukraine, has seen increased militarization since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Last year, a security pact signed by Putin and Lukashenko placed Belarus under Russia's nuclear umbrella, allowing Russian tactical nuclear weapons to be stationed in Belarusian territory.
President Lukashenko, who has led Belarus for over 30 years, has become one of Moscow's key allies. In December, he stated that Belarus already hosts "several dozen" Russian nuclear weapons. With the planned deployment of Oreshnik missiles, Belarus is poised to become a significant forward operating base in Russia's strategic positioning against Western powers.
