Belarus Urges Restraint as Russia Says Oreshnik Strike Disabled Lviv Repair Plant

Overview

• Belarusian Security Council Secretary Alexander Volfovich said he hopes the Oreshnik stationed in Belarus will not be used from its territory, describing it as meant for national defense.
• The Russian Defense Ministry previously reported using the hypersonic Oreshnik in a large strike on Ukrainian targets in response to an attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence.
• The ministry later said the strike put the Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant out of service, hitting workshops, UAV storage and associated airfield infrastructure.
• Russian authorities say Oreshnik entered combat duty in Belarus on December 30 after President Alexander Lukashenko announced its arrival on December 18, with no more than about a dozen complexes planned.
• U.S. analyst Scott Ritter argued the recent launch demonstrates Russian dominance in a renewed arms race, offering an interpretive assessment rather than an official position.