Belarus is preparing to place Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile system on combat alert in December, according to President Alexander Lukashenko and state news outlets.
The deployment follows joint military exercises during which Belarusian and Russian forces trained with the Oreshnik system.
Lukashenko described the weapon as mobile and warned foreign adversaries that Belarus is ready to act if provoked.
The Oreshnik is reported to be capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads and reaching speeds up to Mach 10.
Western officials view the move as part of Russia’s strategy to extend its nuclear-capable strike infrastructure into Belarus in response to NATO presence on its western flank.
