Official announcements from Belarusian government, satellite imagery

Lukashenko Confirms Over a Dozen Nuclear Warheads in Belarus, Oreshnik Missiles to Be Deployed in 2025

Dec 10, 2024, 11:23 AM

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed that Belarus is now in possession of over a dozen nuclear warheads, stating that he personally brought them into the country and that "they didn't even notice how we brought them in here." Lukashenko emphasized that the nuclear weapons are already deployed in Belarus, countering claims that their presence was a "joke" or untrue. He also announced plans to deploy the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) system in Belarus, with the launchers being manufactured locally and Russia supplying the missiles free of charge in the second half of 2025. There are about 30 potential sites in Belarus for deploying the Oreshnik system, with final locations to be determined based on proximity to targets. He asserted that Minsk will determine the targets for the Oreshnik missiles, not Russia, stating, "We will determine the targets, not the Russians." Lukashenko added that Belarus will "press the button" together with Russia if necessary. He warned that Belarus would respond immediately, including with nuclear weapons, to any violation of its borders, declaring, "I will not care whether it is nuclear weapons or something else."