Lukashenko says Oreshnik missile system has already been deployed in Belarus

Self-proclaimed president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has said that the Russian Oreshnik missile system has already been delivered to Belarus.

Source: Lukashenko in his address, as reported by Belarusian state-owned news agency BelTA

Quote: "It has been here since yesterday and has been put on combat duty."

Background:

• On 17 December, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin claimed that the Oreshnik ballistic missile system will be put on combat duty by the end of 2025.
• On the night of 8-9 July 2024, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) destroyed one of Russia's three Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missiles.
• Ukraine's Air Force noted that Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile during a missile attack on the city of Dnipro on 21 November. Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that it might have been a Rubezh missile, a potential carrier of nuclear warheads.
• In an address on 21 November, Putin indirectly confirmed reports which indicated that during the 21 November attack on Dnipro, Russia used an Oreshnik medium-range missile.
• The United States officially confirmed that Russia struck Dnipro on the morning of 21 November with a ballistic missile derived from a RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
• On 22 November, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine stated that Russia had launched a ballistic missile, likely from the Kedr missile system, against Ukraine.
• On 28 November, Putin announced the alleged start of serial production of the Oreshnik system and said he could use the Oreshnik missile to strike "decision-making centres in Kyiv".

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