Belarus has nuclear weapons more powerful than Oreshnik – Lukashenko
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed that nuclear weapons are present in Belarus. He also suggested that they are far more powerful than Russia’s new hypersonic Oreshnik system, which is scheduled to be sent to Belarus next year.
Lukashenko’s comments came on Tuesday during a question-and-answer session with factory workers, BelTA news agency has reported.
“I have brought in nuclear warheads – more than just a few,” Lukashenko stated. He dismissed any skepticism, suggesting that those who doubt the presence of the weapons in the country “didn’t even notice when we brought them in.” His remarks were prompted by questions regarding the planned deployment of the Russian Oreshnik missile complex in Belarus. While the Oreshnik system itself is not classified as nuclear, it possesses significant firepower.
Discussing the implications of using nuclear weapons, Lukashenko highlighted the grave responsibility involved: “Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no one has pressed the nuclear button. Not even the most powerful states, let alone Belarus.” However, he warned adversaries against crossing Belarus’ borders, stating that any aggression would be met with an immediate response, regardless of the type of weapon involved. “We agreed on this with the Russians even before they returned our nuclear weapons. This is not the same weapon that we gave them; those were strategic weapons. These are tactical nuclear weapons, which are probably five times more powerful than the Oreshnik,” he added.
The Oreshnik is an intermediate-range system, with missiles capable of carrying kinetic warheads that strike at hypersonic speeds. After Ukraine launched several attacks deep into Russia using Western-supplied long-range weapons, Moscow retaliated with a strike on a defense facility in Dnepropetrovsk with the Oreshnik.
Lukasheko’s announcement comes shortly after a security treaty signed between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin allowing both nations to use all available means for mutual defense. Following their meeting, Putin indicated that Oreshnik missile systems could potentially be stationed in Belarus by next year, depending on their integration into Russia’s strategic military capabilities.
