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Russia is preparing to deploy the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system in Belarus, primarily targeting Europe.
This was stated by Oleh Ivashchenko, Head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU), in a comment to press, UATV English reports.
“We are observing preparations for the deployment of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile on the territory of Belarus. Russia and Belarus are developing military facilities for launchers, surveillance, and communications systems, which are elements of the Oreshnik system. However, as of now, these measures have not yet been fully implemented,” Ivashchenko said.
According to him, Russia is physically capable of placing a launcher in Belarus, but without completing the construction of other system components, it would function only as a mock-up.
Ivashchenko emphasized that even if Oreshnik is deployed in Belarus, Minsk would have no rights or authority to use it. The missile system would remain under the unified command of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces.
The SZRU assesses that deploying Oreshnik in Belarus is driven by Russia’s intent to intensify pressure and blackmail against Europe and European states, as well as to shield the system from potential strikes. Stationing such weapons in the European part of Russia would make them a legitimate target for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
“The deployment of Oreshnik on Belarusian territory is a tool of pressure primarily against the EU and NATO, not Ukraine. Such a move would allow Russia to expand its capability to carry out a sudden strike on the capital of any European country and significantly reduce missile flight time compared to launches from the Kapustin Yar test site,” Ivashchenko stressed.
Previously, Ivashchenko told press that as of May this year, Belarus did not host nuclear weapons, only their delivery systems.
On October 31, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the Russian Oreshnik missile system was planned to be put on combat duty in December.
