Lukashenko unveils details of Oreshnik talks with Putin
The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has revealed that he discussed possible locations in his country to host Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missiles, during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
Moscow plans to station several Oreshnik systems in Belarus as part of the joint security framework between the two nations.
During a speech to the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, Lukashenko said Putin “told me, ‘Now we need to decide where to host them,’ and I said, ‘That’s an easier task, as long as we have something to host,’” Lukashenko said.
The Oreshnik missiles in Belarus will utilize domestically-produced launchers, currently in production and expected to be ready on schedule, Lukashenko revealed. Belarus boasts expertise in manufacturing ballistic missile launch systems dating back to the Soviet era. The transfer of Oreshnik missiles is anticipated later this year.
Russia showcased the new missile in November by conducting a strike on a military factory in Ukraine. Moscow said the demonstration of the advanced weapon was a response to Western authorization allowing Kiev to use donated long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory.
The hypersonic, multiple-warhead medium-range missile is believed to be nuclear-capable, although Putin asserts its conventional form can inflict damage comparable to a low-yield nuclear explosion.
Russia and Belarus have been strengthening collective security, with a mutual defense treaty between the two nations coming into effect earlier this month. Last year, Russia had stationed some of its nuclear weapons in Belarus.
