In a significant development underscoring deepening ties between Moscow and Minsk, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to deploy advanced Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile systems in Belarus. The announcement, made during a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on December 6, marks a notable expansion in the military capabilities of the Union State alliance and sends a pointed message to NATO amidst ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe.
The Oreshnik missile system represents Russia’s latest achievement in missile technology. It is an intermediate-range ballistic missile armed with kinetic warheads capable of traveling at hypersonic speeds-reaching up to Mach 10, or ten times the speed of sound. Designed to evade even the most sophisticated air defense systems, the missile is being hailed by Russian officials as a game-changer in modern warfare.
According to Putin, the system recently underwent successful combat testing, targeting the Yuzhmash military-industrial complex in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. The test served both as a demonstration of the missile’s capabilities and as a strategic signal to Western powers. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the test was intended as a warning to the West against further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
The deployment of these missiles in Belarus is planned for the second half of 2025, aligning with the timeline for the system’s full operational readiness. However, Putin stressed that technical considerations, such as determining........