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By Isabella Egerton
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is preparing to deploy its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system to Belarus, a move he said would threaten several European countries.
The relocation of the Oreshnik system to Belarus is nearing completion, and Ukraine knows where it will be deployed, he said in a statement. “We are sharing this information with our partners. The partners themselves can assess this threat and understand how to respond,” he said.
“We previously warned our European and American partners that Russia would deploy Oreshnik in Belarus,” Zelensky added. “We showed the operational range of Oreshnik. This poses a threat to many European countries, including Poland, Germany, and others.”
The Oreshnik is a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) capable of speeds exceeding Mach 10 (approximately 7,670 mph). It carries a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle equipped with six warheads, each reportedly containing submunitions. The system has seen one combat use, striking the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on 21 November 2024, and is described as highly difficult to intercept. US officials have identified Oreshnik as a variant of the RS-26 Rubezh IRBM.
Zelensky also criticised the lack of sanctions on companies supplying components for the system through third countries. “We have asked our partners to impose sanctions on companies in Europe and elsewhere that supply components suitable for Oreshnik through third countries. I do not see these sanctions being imposed. For now, we believe Russia will continue producing Oreshnik. The number of systems is known to us,” he said.
“They are not doing this without reason. My question is quite logical. If our partners – the United States and others – are making significant diplomatic efforts to end the war, can they also apply pressure on Russia to prevent it from deploying Oreshnik closer to Europe, closer to the borders with Poland? I believe this is something that must be addressed,” he said.
Zelensky’s warning comes as the United States and its allies pursue diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war, with questions being raised about whether these efforts are being matched by measures to prevent further Russian military escalation.
No official response from Russia has been reported so far. European leaders have not yet issued statements reacting publicly to Zelensky’s warning, though analysts say the deployment could heighten security concerns in NATO countries bordering Belarus.