Russia May Deploy New Ballistic Missile in Belarus, Putin Says
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Friday that Russia could deploy its new Oreshnik ballistic missile system in Belarus by the second half of 2025, marking another step in military cooperation between the two allied nations.
The announcement came during a meeting in Minsk with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who directly requested the missile deployment, citing concerns about neighboring NATO countries.
While the missile systems would remain under Russian military control as part of its Strategic Rocket Forces, Putin indicated that Belarus would have authority to determine potential targets. The deployment would follow a new security pact signed between the two countries aimed at protecting their sovereignty and constitutional order.
The Oreshnik missile system recently saw its first combat use in November 2023, when Russia launched it against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Putin has claimed the missile is impossible to intercept with air defense systems and stated that multiple Oreshnik strikes could match the force of a nuclear weapon.
The planned deployment adds to Russia's existing military presence in Belarus, where tactical nuclear weapons were stationed in June 2023. Both countries have conducted joint military exercises to practice using these weapons.
However, questions remain about Russia's ability to produce the missiles in large numbers. Defense industry experts suggest bureaucratic inefficiencies and innovation challenges could slow mass production efforts.
The move comes amid ongoing tensions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, for which Belarus has served as a launching ground. While the deployment may increase regional tensions, military analysts note that Russia already maintains other missile systems in locations like Kaliningrad that can reach similar strategic targets.