Belarus to Test Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile Near NATO Border

Belarus announced it will practice deploying Oreshnik nuclear-capable missiles during military exercises with Russia, near its border with NATO member states. The exercises, named 'Zapad-2025', will take place between September 12 and 16.

Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin stated that within the framework of the exercises, they will work with their Russian colleagues on planning the use of this type of weapon. He added that they are monitoring the situation on their western and northern borders.

In 2024, Russia used the Oreshnik missile, without a nuclear warhead, to strike a military factory in the city of Dnipro, Ukraine. The Zapad military exercises are a show of force near Belarus's western border with EU and NATO members.

Kyiv and Eastern European countries have expressed concerns regarding potential military reinforcements in Belarus, which borders Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Russia has announced its intention to deploy Oreshnik hypersonic missiles in Belarus by the end of the year.