Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed that Russian-made Oreshnik missile systems have been deployed on Belarusian territory and placed on combat alert.
Speaking on Thursday at the 7th All-Belarusian People’s Assembly in Minsk, Lukashenko said the first launch positions for the missile system had been prepared and activated a day earlier. His remarks were broadcast by the state news agency Belta.
The announcement follows earlier statements by the Belarusian leader indicating that the deployment would take place by the end of the year. Lukashenko has previously described the move as a deterrent measure, signalling that Belarus would be capable of striking if faced with serious threats.
In July, Lukashenko said he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the system to be stationed in Belarus before year-end. Moscow first publicly acknowledged using the Oreshnik missile in November 2024, when it said the weapon struck an industrial facility in Ukraine’s Dnipro region in response to Kyiv’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles against targets inside Russia.
Belarus has also taken part in joint military exercises with Russia involving the system. In September, Minsk said the Zapad-2025 drills included rehearsals for the deployment of Oreshnik missiles and planning for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.
Russia has steadily expanded its military footprint in Belarus since the start of the Ukraine conflict. In March 2023, President Putin announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in the country and to construct a dedicated storage facility.
Relations with the United States
In the same address, Lukashenko said Belarus had begun what he described as a difficult but constructive dialogue with the United States, suggesting that talks were moving towards a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
He claimed Washington was prepared to guarantee the lifting of sanctions as part of broader discussions, while criticising the use of the U.S. dollar as a political tool.
Lukashenko also said talks were under way on reopening the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, though disagreements remain over security arrangements for the mission.
Lukashenko added that the European Union remains one of the world’s major centres of power alongside the United States, Russia and China, but warned that internal divisions could weaken its position.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly told EU leaders on Thursday that the signing of a free trade agreement with the Mercosur...
Azerbaijani MP Qaya Mammadov has described the recent trade agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia as a historic milestone, signalling a possible sh...
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed that Russian-made Oreshnik missile systems have been deployed on Belarusian territory and plac...
The Academy Awards, widely known as the Oscars, will shift from traditional television broadcasting to online streaming on YouTube starting in 2029, t...
The ongoing U.S. military actions against vessels in Latin American waters are raising alarm both regionally and internationally....
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly told EU leaders on Thursday that the signing of a free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc has been postponed until January.
The Academy Awards, widely known as the Oscars, will shift from traditional television broadcasting to online streaming on YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil at the latter’s request.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
Citizens from an additional seven countries, including Syria, are being banned from travelling to the U.S. from the 1st of January next year. President Donald Trump made the annoucement on Tuesday (16 December) now has a total of 39 countries banned from entering the States.
Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest next year, has said it will not block Palestinian flags in the audience or suppress crowd reactions during Israel’s performance.
Police in Australia have charged a man who allegedly opened fire on a Jewish event on Sydney's Bondi Beach with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has offered to mediate between the U.S. and Venezuela, warning that urgent diplomatic intervention is needed to prevent a “fratricidal war” in Latin America.
Türkiye has enhanced its environmental and cultural conservation efforts, registering 10,503 monumental trees and 319 caves nationwide, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change confirmed.
Former Iraqi President Barham Ahmed Salih has been elected by the UN General Assembly as the next High Commissioner for Refugees, beginning a five-year term on 1 January 2026.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly told EU leaders on Thursday that the signing of a free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc has been postponed until January.
Azerbaijani MP Qaya Mammadov has described the recent trade agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia as a historic milestone, signalling a possible shift in relations between the two countries.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment