Overview

• Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to station the Oreschnik missile system in Belarus starting in the second half of 2025.
• The Oreschnik missile, recently used in Ukraine, can carry nuclear warheads and has a range of up to 5,500 kilometers, with speeds reaching ten times the speed of sound.
• Belarusian President Alexander Lukaschenko requested the deployment to bolster Belarus' defense as part of a new mutual security agreement between the two nations.
• The stationing aligns with increased military collaboration between Russia and Belarus, including prior deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
• The announcement coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Russia-Belarus Union State, highlighting deepening ties amid ongoing tensions with Western nations.