Union State secretary describes Oreshnik deployment in Belarus as forced measure
04:00, 18 December
State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev described the move as "logical and justified" in an interview with the Zvezda TV channel, TASS has learned.
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Russia’s decision to deploy its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system in Belarus was an unavoidable measure taken amid unprecedented external pressure, said the State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Dmitry Mezentsev.
He described the move as "logical and justified" in an interview with the Zvezda TV channel.
"It does not constitute a threat to anyone. It is a guarantee of the Union State's security," Mezentsev said. "Today, Russia and Belarus are forced to respond to unprecedented foreign pressure."
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced following the December 6 meeting of the Supreme Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to deploy Oreshnik missile systems on the territory of Belarus. Putin stated that it could be done in the second half of 2025.
The Russian president said speaking after December 6 meeting that Oreshnik missile systems would be arriving for Russia’s Strategic Missile Force along with their deployment on the territory of Belarus.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry stressed later that the decision to deploy Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus had come in response to the steps by Germany and the United States to deploy intermediate-range missiles to Europe.
