Belarusian authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenko announced on Tuesday that “several dozen” Russian nuclear warheads are being deployed in Belarus, with around 30 locations being considered for the placement of Oreshnik missile systems.
The Oreshnik missiles were recently used by Russia in a major strike on Ukraine.
Lukashenko made these comments during a visit to the city of Barisau. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the Oreshnik missile systems would be deployed in Belarus, potentially by the second half of 2025.
“Many people said, ‘this is a joke, nothing has been deployed.’ But we did it. When they say it’s a joke, it means they’ve missed it. They didn’t even notice how we brought them here,” Lukashenko said about the tactical nuclear warheads sent to Belarus, according to the state news agency BeITA.
This development marks a new phase in the military strategy and the growing ties between Russia and Belarus.
Russia first launched the Oreshnik missile on November 21 over the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Putin claimed at the time that it was a response to the use of American ATACMS ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine, which targeted Russian territory with Western approval.
The technical details of the Oreshnik missile are still unknown, but it is believed to be designed to enhance the survivability and efficiency of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, especially in light of global security challenges.
Lukashenko, who has been Putin’s closest ally since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory as a launchpad for its aggression.
Lukashenko claimed, without evidence, that Belarus would have control over determining the targets of the Oreshnik missiles.
“The targets will be set by us in Belarus, not by the Russians,” he said, but added that both countries would cooperate if military needs arise. /REL
