A Russian missile brigade equipped with Oreshnik systems has been deployed to Belarus. This was announced by Oleh Ivashchenko, head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine, in an interview published on September 7.
According to the intelligence chief, the deployment involves Russia’s 101st Missile Brigade. Over six months ago, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Belarus was already hosting Russian Oreshnik missile systems, either fully or partially, and that Moscow had completed the necessary “preparatory and technical work.” Zelenskyy described this move as a significant escalation risk.
Capabilities and use of the Oreshnik
The Oreshnik system is considered a modified version of the Rubezh surface‑to‑surface missile. Its high speed makes it a difficult target to intercept, posing significant challenges for Ukrainian air defence. Although the system is designed to carry nuclear warheads, none were used in previous strikes on Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the missile is unstoppable, but military experts dispute this. To date, three known instances of Oreshnik use have been recorded, all causing only minimal damage. The first strike occurred in November 2023 against the city of Dnipro, the second took place during a large‑scale attack on western Ukraine, specifically targeting Lviv, and the most recent use was in May during a strike on Bila Tserkva, about 80 km from Kyiv.
Impact on the security situation
In his interview with the Ukrinform agency, Oleh Ivashchenko also raised concerns about Belarus allowing the installation of radio‑signal repeaters on its territory. These devices help adjust the flight paths of Russian Shahed drones targeting Ukraine’s civilian and critical infrastructure. “If Belarus did not grant such permission, it indicates that Minsk no longer controls Russia’s activities on its own territory,” Ivashchenko noted.
Despite Moscow’s attempts to use Belarusian territory and military resources in the war against Ukraine, Kyiv sees no signs that Minsk is preparing to join the conflict on Russia’s side. According to Oleh Ivashchenko, the threat from Belarus, ruled by dictator Alexander Lukashenko since 1994, remains low. Belarus is one of Moscow’s closest allies and has provided political and military support since the start of Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Kyiv Independent
