The deployment of the hyper-sonic, medium-range Oreshnik missile in Belarus was a strategic move made in response to provocative actions by Western adversaries, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said in an interview, reported TASS. He explained, “Over a year ago, tactical nuclear weapons were stationed on our territory, and they have recently been upgraded.” Khrenin added that “The final step, carried out under the directives of our heads of state, was the deployment of the Oreshnik system on Belarusian land.” Minsk’s actions came as a reaction to what it perceives as aggressive moves by its opponents. The Oreshnik is capable of carrying either nuclear or conventional warheads.
“Regarding their claims that they intend to confront us, only time will reveal how this will influence the broader situation. I believe that rational leaders—like the presidents of Russia and China—will step into the spotlight,” Khrenin explained further. “These are individuals who understand very well that saber-rattling serves no constructive purpose and will only lead to negative outcomes.”
Separately, Pavel Muraveiko , Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, told the ONT TV channel that the Oreshnik missile system is now on combat duty in Belarus. “Being on or performing combat duty is a rather comprehensive concept. Yes, indeed, the Oreshnik system is located on our territory, its combat patrol areas are defined, and the coordination of combat crews and geo-referencing is being carried out to enable its deployment and application,” he said, reported Belta. “All these activities constitute a set of works aimed at reducing the launch time of a combat missile. So, standing combat duty essentially means having the system at its highest alert level and keeping it ready to perform any designated tasks.’
What is the deployment time for the system? “It can vary, depending on the level of readiness and other factors, but it’s a matter of minutes, very quick,” Muraveiko stressed.
As for NATO and the new U.S. National Security Strategy, Muraveiko expressed his view that actions speak louder than words. “Someone ancient and wise said that words mean nothing—actions show everything. Yes, undoubtedly, the U.S. strategy has introduced tones of scaling back aggressive rhetoric, dialing down conflict potential, and toning down its opposition to Europe,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean we should start clapping our hands and shouting that everything has changed for us. While writing provisions about Europe’s self-reliance in the strategy, the USA nevertheless demanded that its NATO allies reach a threshold of 5% of GDP in defense spending. The issue of reducing NATO or disbanding the alliance was not considered. We must watch the actions. Therefore, we assess this as a positive signal, but our decisions and actions will be guided exclusively by practical steps that ensure our security, our development, and our functioning within the coordinates of international relations.”
