"As for the possibility of deploying such formidable weapons as Oreshnik in Belarus, given that today the two countries signed an agreement on ensuring security with the use of all available forces and means, the deployment of such systems as Oreshnik in Belarus is possible," TASS quoted Putin as saying after a meeting with the Supreme State Council of the Federal Republic of Belarus.
The Russian leader added that the deployment of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile will become a reality in the second half of 2025 when the serial production of this missile system in Russia has increased and when the Oreshnik has entered service with Russia's strategic missile forces.
President Putin also warned about the need to resolve a number of technical issues before deploying Oreshnik missiles in Belarus.
“Of course, there are a number of technical issues that need to be resolved by experts, in particular, determining the minimum scope taking into account Belarus' security priorities. Experts need to consider this issue,” Putin noted.
The Russian President said that the deployment of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus will not require large costs.
“I think there is a chance to deploy Oreshnik in Belarus because it will require minimal costs. Belarus still maintains certain infrastructure inherited from the Soviet era, so the deployment of such systems in Belarus will require minimal spending on setting up and operating the infrastructure,” Putin explained.
Earlier, Mr. Putin mentioned some technical aspects when comparing the Oreshnik hypersonic missile and nuclear weapons. "Of course, advanced systems like Oreshnik have no analogues in the world. In case of group use, they have the same effect as nuclear weapons, but they are not weapons of mass destruction," Mr. Putin said.
The Russian leader emphasized two outstanding features of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile.
"First, unlike weapons of mass destruction, Oreshnik is a precision weapon. Oreshnik does not attack a large area and achieves results not through force but through precision.
Secondly, in case of using a group of 1, 2 or 3 missiles, the impact of Oreshnik is similar to that of nuclear weapons, but they do not contaminate the terrain or cause any radiation consequences," Mr. Putin informed.
On November 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that in response to the West's use of long-range weapons targeting Russian territory, the newest non-nuclear medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik was launched for the first time against Ukraine's defense industrial facility, the Yuzhmash plant.
