Events

18 Dec 2025

Oreshnik missile systems about to begin combat alert duty in Belarus

MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – Any aggressive move in the direction of Belarusian borders will be treated as a threat to the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement in his address to the nation and the parliament on 18 December, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “Strategic defense is also enabled by our military cooperation, primarily with the Russian Federation. Belarus and Russia implement a complex of strategic deterrence measures. Such as the deployment of the Russian component of the regional military force in our territory: if a conflict deteriorates, then armed forces to the tune of tens of thousands of people from Russia’s west will get immediately involved in military fighting as the second echelon.”

The head of state reminded that tactical nuclear weapons had also been deployed in Belarus.

“Apart from that, the first positions have been set up for Oreshnik [hazelnut] missile systems. We had them as of yesterday and they are about to begin combat alert duty,” the president stated.

Aleksandr Lukashenko responded to the criticism from those, who had doubted the need to deploy such powerful weapons in Belarus by saying that it would be the primary target for the attacker and that the country would be in the crosshairs now. “Don’t fall for these talks,” the Belarusian leader encouraged.

He compared the situation to the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. That decision was first criticized inside the country and by the closest neighbors. Now Lithuania is interested in a nuclear power plant of its own while Poland intends to acquire even two nuclear installations. Germany and France have completely reactivated their nuclear power plants.

“This is why don’t fall for the talks claiming that here are nuclear weapons and that strikes targeting these facilities will be carried out. What if a genuine war is launched against us? Will we have it easy then? Strikes will be carried out against us. And as they like to say, the strikes will target decision-making centers. This is why we do everything to prevent a war,” the Belarusian leader stressed.