August 13, Pozirk. The Zapad-2025 military exercise scheduled to take place in Belarus on September 12-16 will involve training in planning the use of nuclear weapons and Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Belarusian defense minister said.
“We see the situation at our western and northers borders and cannot just sit and watch the militarization and military activity,” state-controlled media quoted General Viktar Chrenin as saying after his meeting with Alaksandar Łukašenka on August 13.
He described the nuclear strike planning drill as “an important element of strategic . . . deterrence.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened to deploy Oreshniks to Belarus.
With its hypersonic speed, MIRV capability, and potential for nuclear or conventional payloads, the Oreshnik shifts the strategic landscape, enabling Russia to strike deep within NATO territory if necessary.
