Belarus Plans December Deployment of Russian Oreshnik Hypersonic Missiles Amid Western Escalation

Belarus plans to deploy Russia's advanced Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile system by December 2025, with preparations nearly complete, according to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's spokesperson Natalya Eismont and multiple reports. Lukashenko described the deployment as a response to Western escalation and highlighted the missile system's speed and destructive power, warning that its flight time leaves little room for error in case of provocation. The Oreshnik missiles were recently showcased in joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises and have already been used by Russia in November 2024 against Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin authorizing the strike as retaliation for Western-backed missile attacks. While Russia claims the missile is virtually unstoppable and comparable in destructive power to nuclear weapons, Western experts remain skeptical. Lukashenko has stated that Belarus will host a dozen of these missiles, reinforcing the military collaboration with Russia amid rising regional tensions.