Russia's Oreshnik missile systems to begin combat alert duty in Belarus, said Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin Monday in Minsk.
"The systems are already in Belarus. They will be operational by the end of this month," he said.
No more than 10 Oreshnik missile systems have been deployed in Belarus, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko noted on Monday.
Oreshnik is Russia's latest medium-range missile system, which successfully completed its first operational test in November 2024.
Lukashenko requested the deployment of the systems within Belarusian territory last December. Russian President Putin stated at that time that the deployment could take place in the second half of 2025.
Khrenin stated that Belarus' neighboring countries, such as the Baltic states and Poland, plan to raise their military spending to 5 percent or even higher of their GDP next year. Poland also aims to expand its military size to 300,000 troops by 2035.
Belarus holds that its neighboring countries are unwilling to reduce military tensions, and the deployment of Oreshnik systems is intended as a deterrent.
"We have made it clear that we do not intend to go to war with you. We are not a threat to you. On the contrary, we are saying that let's have a dialogue. Let's at least go back to the kind of relationship that should exist between neighbors," said Khrenin.
He emphasized that the delivery of the Oreshnik systems is not a provocation or an arms race, but a forced measure to protect Belarus' borders in response to the U.S. deployment of medium-range missiles in Europe.
Oreshnik missile systems to begin combat alert duty in Belarus: defense minister
