Oreshnik | Belarus: Why Vladimir Putin will deploy hypersonic missiles in Belarus, a country that already hosts tactical nuclear weapons

The feared Oreshnik hypersonic missiles They will be deployed soon in Belarusreported the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin. This powerful weapon has already been used in Ukrainian territory and, according to the Kremlin leader, having a sufficient hypersonic arsenal makes the use of nuclear bombs practically unnecessary.

He hypersonic missile Oreshnik was first released by Russia on November 21 during an attack against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Its use was in response to the authorization of USA a Ukraine so you can fire your long range missiles ATACMS against the territory of Russia.

Your shipment to Belarus will be added to the Russian tactical nuclear weapons who are already in that country.

On December 6, during a meeting with Putin in Minskthe president of Belarus, Alexandr Lukashenkosaid that His country already hosts dozens of Russian tactical nuclear weapons. Both leaders participated in a meeting of the Supreme Soviet of the Russia-Belarus State Union.

The comment was made a week after he and Putin signed a treaty that granted security guarantees to Belarusincluding the possible use of Russian nuclear weapons to help repel any aggression, the AP agency detailed.

“I have warned all my enemies, ‘friends’ and adversaries: If they step on the border, the response will be immediate”Lukashenko said.

““Many have said: ‘It’s a joke, no one has deployed anything.’ However, we have done it… I’ve brought nuclear warheads here, and not just a dozen of them… They didn’t even notice when we brought them here“, said Lukashenko by ensuring that the West failed to track its deployment.

A response to NATO

Regarding hypersonic missiles OreshnikPutin explained the reason why they will be deployed in Belarus.

He said that it is about a security guarantee against the threat posed by NATO.

“These systems will enter service in the Russian Strategic Forces and, in parallel, we will begin deployment on the territory of Belarus”Putin said in Minsk.

“The situation in Europe causes us special concern. In particular, of course, in Ukraine. Western countries intentionally instigate tensions (…) Irresponsible policies are bringing the world to the brink of global conflict”he stated Putin.

The EFE agency reported that Lukashenko took advantage of Putin’s presence in Minsk to publicly ask him to send the Oreshnik.

“Recently, Russia successfully launched the Oreshnikwhich had some impact on our former partners and current adversaries. Forgive me for being so bold, but I want to publicly ask that the new weapons systems, mainly the Oreshnikbe deployed on the territory of Belarus”said.

Putin He assured him that, taking into account that serial production will be in full swing in the second half of 2025, it will be then when said missiles can be transferred to Belarus and placed in silos built during the times of the Soviet Union.

Lukashenko assured that some 30 sites are being considered as possible locations for the Oreshnik missile systems.

Who will decide against which country the Oreshnik which will be sent to Belarus? The Russian president stated that “The choice of targets on the territory of a potential enemy will certainly be and will remain the responsibility of the military-political leadership of Belarus.”

For its part, Lukashenko He assured that “the only condition” he sets is that the objectives are set Minsk. Before, he had spoken of the threat posed by Poland and Lithuania, which he considers more dangerous than the one represented Ukraine.

“15 kilometers away, a stone’s throw from the border, not only Polish and Lithuanian troops are deployed, but military forces from NATO and other countries, including Germany, are being brought there”Lukashenko denounced.

The location of Belarus is strategic for Russia. The country borders NATO member states such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

What is the Oreshnik hypersonic missile like?

Russia has not reported in detail on the characteristics of the missile hypersonic oreshnik.

But in November, when it was first used, Putin explained that the Oreshnik is a “medium range” hypersonic ballistic missile”, which implies that it can hit targets at a range of 3,000 and 5,500 kilometers. This weapon far surpasses the missiles used until now in the war in Ukraine.

Putin assured that the missile was equipped with a “non-nuclear hypersonic payload” and that its warheads “attacked targets at a speed of Mach 10, that is, 2.5 to 3 kilometers per second.”

It is believed that the Oreshnik It measures approximately 12 meters long and has a diameter of close to 1.8 meters.

He Oreshnik that Russia used hit the Pivdenmach missile factory, located in Dnipro, in east-central Ukraine. It was fired from the Russian region of Astrakhan, at a distance of almost 1,000 km, according to kyiv.

“The flight time” between launch and impact was 15 minutes, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said.

The AFP agency highlighted that although the Oreshnik does not fall into the category of intercontinental missiles, those that can reach targets more than 5,500 km, if fired from the Russian Far East it could hit the west coast of the United States.

Besides, The great capitals of Europe are within reach.

In November, the commander of the Russian Strategic Missile ForcesColonel General Sergei Karakayev, told Putin that “By virtue of the planned missions and the scope of said weaponry, it can hit targets throughout Europe (…) As you have said, the massive use of this type of weaponry is comparable to the use of nuclear weapons.”

He added that There is no weapon similar to the Oreshnik anywhere in the world.