Russia’s ally to test hypersonic missile in eastern Europe: “We must be prepared”
Minsk and Moscow to conduct drills using the Oreshnik, a missile Moscow has already fired at Ukraine.
Russia and Belarus will carry out a series of military exercises in September, named Zapad-2025, which will include drills involving nuclear weapons and the Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile, according to Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin on Wednesday.
“This is an important element of our strategic deterrence. As the head of state demands, we must be prepared for anything,” Khrenin said just two days before U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, meet in Alaska to negotiate a possible end to the war in Ukraine.
The Oreshnik is a Russian-made hypersonic missile that Moscow already used against Ukraine last November, nearly a year ago, when it struck the city of Dnipro. Russia and Belarus will conduct drills with this missile from September 12 to 16, after Moscow announced it would not impose limits on a potential missile launch capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
“We see the situation on our western and northern borders and cannot calmly observe militarization and military activity. We demonstrate openness and a willingness for peace, but we must always remain safe,” Khrenin added.
Belarus debuts new Russian fighter jets
Belarus has also received a batch of Russian Su-30SM2 fighter jets. “We have received another batch of aviation equipment, the Su-30SM2, as part of the technical-military cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation,” explained Chief of Staff Andrei Rachkov in a statement.
According to Belarusian authorities, technical personnel and pilots have successfully adapted to the upgrades on this Sukhoi model. “We are training young flight personnel and carrying out combat duty tasks for air defense on these aircraft,” they added.
The Su-30SM2 is an upgraded aircraft from the Russian aerospace engineering company Sukhoi, with improved target detection range, navigation tools, and other features, according to military officials.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.