Latest news with #Khrenin
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Russia to hold nuclear missile and Oreshnik doomsday drills on NATO doorstep
It comes after Vladimir Putin closed the airspace over the missile test site from which he launched his notorious new doomsday intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine Russia and its close ally Belarus are set to stage nuclear missile drills next month right on NATO's doorstep. The joint Zapad-2025 war games next month will involve up to 150,000 troops, according to Western estimates. They will involve 'planning the use of nuclear weapons and the Oreshnik' doomsday system, announced Belarus defence minister General Viktor Khrenin. 'This is for us an important element of strategic, above all, deterrence,' he said. 'As required by the Head of State [Alexander Lukashenko], we must be ready for anything.' Russian Iskander nuclear missiles are already stored in Belarus. It comes after NATO scrambled warplanes as Russia shoots down West's F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine onslaught. Su-25 aircraft in the state which borders NATO countries Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, have been modified for nuclear capability. And the nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile is due soon to be deployed in the country. This 'game-changing weapon' even in non-nuclear format can incinerate a target by unleashing a temperature of 4,000C, almost as hot as the surface of the sun, according to the Russians. A 'unstoppable' hypersonic Oreshnik launch from Belarus could hit London in eight minutes, it is estimated. Hardliner Khrenin hit out at the deployment of troops in neighbouring Poland. 'What is most alarming is the decision of the Polish military leadership to create a grouping of more than 30,000 to 34,000 servicemen,' he said. 'This is already a serious grouping, in our assessment. 'We must watch this very closely - and that is what we will be doing - and respond.' Two Russian units have arrived in Belarus for the war games, while some of Lukashenko's forces have moved to Russia for the drills. There have been denials that the exercises pose a threat to neighbouring Ukraine, despite Russia's ongoing war. 'We are not hiding the themes of the exercises,' said Khrenin . 'We are saying that the main one is practising the defence of our territory by the joint regional grouping of troops. The event is planned. This is not some sudden decision.' Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin has closed the airspace over the missile test site from which he launched his notorious new doomsday intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine last year. It happens as his former speechwriter predicts the Kremlin dictator will go to war against NATO in the Baltics. Airspace was shut around the Kapustin Yar site when the nation carries out tests on multiple new missiles, but it is unclear if the current closure from 4 to 8 August is linked to another imminent Oreshnik launch. New tests are expected and Putin says Oreshnik is now 'up and running' in serial production, with the missile complex due to be supplied to his ally Belarus later this year. 'We have produced the first serial Oreshnik system,' said Putin on 1 August. 'The first serial missile. It has been delivered to the army.' An announcement on 4 August by the Russian foreign ministry that it was abandoning a moratorium on deploying medium- and short-range missiles may be linked to Oreshnik. 'The conditions for keeping the one-sided moratorium on deploying similar weapons are gone and the Russian Federation no longer feels tied to the self-imposed restrictions it agreed to before,' said the ministry.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russian and Belarusian military exercises next month to involve Oreshnik hypersonic missile
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Joint exercises to be held by the Russian and Belarusian armies next month will include drills on the planned use of nuclear weapons and the Russian-made, intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik missile, Belarus' defence minister said on Wednesday. The comments by Viktor Khrenin come just two days before U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska to discuss a possible deal to end the full-scale war in Ukraine, which Moscow launched in part from Belarusian territory in February 2022. Khrenin told journalists in Minsk that the Belarusians would work with their Russian counterparts on how to use the Oreshnik, as well as nuclear weapons, during the military exercises, to be held in Belarus from September 12-16. "This is an important element of our strategic deterrence. As the head of state demands, we must be prepared for anything," Khrenin was quoted as saying by Belta, a Belarusian state news agency. "We see the situation on our western and northern borders and cannot calmly watch the militarisation and military activity. We demonstrate our openness and peacefulness, but we must always keep our powder dry." Belarus borders Poland, Lithuania and Latvia - all NATO members - to the west and north, while in the south it borders Ukraine. Putin said this month that the Oreshnik (Hazel Tree) had gone into serial production and had been delivered to the armed forces. Moscow first used the weapon against Ukraine last November, targeting the city of Dnipro. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 dead after fire in Jalan Bukit Merah flat, about 60 evacuated Singapore ST Explains: How the SAF's drone push for recruits reflects new battlefield realities Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide among Singapore's young adults Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Singapore Jail, caning for recalcitrant drug offender who assaulted 2 cops with stun device Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story The Kremlin said last week it would no longer place any limits on where it deploys intermediate-range missiles that can carry nuclear warheads, after lifting a moratorium on deployment of such weapons in what it cast as a forced response to moves by the West. The scheduled drills, called "Zapad-2025" (West-2025), have raised security concerns in neighbouring Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the idea that Minsk would utilise the exercises to attack its neighbours as "complete nonsense." Belarusian defence officials have pointed to upcoming joint NATO drills in Poland, involving at least 34,000 troops, as evidence of growing militarisation along Belarus' borders. "We need to watch them very closely (which is what we will be doing) and respond accordingly," Khrenin said on Wednesday, referring to the NATO drills. "If they show any aggression toward the Republic of Belarus, we have the means to respond." REUTERS
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Belarus to practice nuclear-capable missile use in Russia drills
Belarus will practice deploying Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 drills near the EU and NATO's eastern border. These drills, scheduled for September 12-16, will involve Belarusian and Russian forces. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Belarus said Wednesday it will practice deployment of Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 ("West-2025") drills close to the EU and NATO's eastern flank a former Soviet republic, is a key Russian ally and depends on the large eastern neighbour economically and also allowed its territory to be used as a staging post for Moscow's 2022 offensive in as well as Poland and the Baltic states, have repeatedly sounded alarm over military build-ups in Belarus, where Russia said it would deploy Oreshnik by the end of the year."Of course, we will work out the plan for using this type of weaponry together with our Russian colleagues," Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said asked if the Zapad drills would include the use of late 2024, Russia used the Ukrainian city of Dnipro as a testing ground for its "experimental" Oreshnik missile without a nuclear warhead."We see the situation on our western and northern borders and can't just sit and watch the militarisation and military activity there," Khrenin was quoted as saying by Belta news state media earlier reported around 13,000 soldiers were originally set to take part in the drills, but the final number of participants was not revealed Zapad-2025 military drills, due on September 12-16, usually involve tens of thousands of troops in a show of force close to Belarus's western border with EU and NATO 200,000 troops participated in the 2021 edition of Zapad, staged just months before Moscow's assault of Ukraine.
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Belarus to practice nuclear-capable missile use in Russia drills
Synopsis Belarus will practice deploying Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 drills near the EU and NATO's eastern border. These drills, scheduled for September 12-16, will involve Belarusian and Russian forces. AP Belarus said Wednesday it will practice deployment of Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 ("West-2025") drills close to the EU and NATO's eastern flank a former Soviet republic, is a key Russian ally and depends on the large eastern neighbour economically and militarily. It also allowed its territory to be used as a staging post for Moscow's 2022 offensive in Ukraine. Kyiv, as well as Poland and the Baltic states, have repeatedly sounded alarm over military build-ups in Belarus, where Russia said it would deploy Oreshnik by the end of the year. "Of course, we will work out the plan for using this type of weaponry together with our Russian colleagues," Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said asked if the Zapad drills would include the use of Oreshnik. In late 2024, Russia used the Ukrainian city of Dnipro as a testing ground for its "experimental" Oreshnik missile without a nuclear warhead."We see the situation on our western and northern borders and can't just sit and watch the militarisation and military activity there," Khrenin was quoted as saying by Belta news state media earlier reported around 13,000 soldiers were originally set to take part in the drills, but the final number of participants was not revealed Zapad-2025 military drills, due on September 12-16, usually involve tens of thousands of troops in a show of force close to Belarus's western border with EU and NATO 200,000 troops participated in the 2021 edition of Zapad, staged just months before Moscow's assault of Ukraine.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Belarus to test nuclear-capable missiles in Russia joint drills near NATO border
MOSCOW: Belarus will conduct deployment exercises for Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 military drills near the eastern borders of the EU and NATO. The former Soviet republic remains a crucial ally of Russia, relying heavily on its eastern neighbour for both economic and military support. Belarus previously allowed Russian forces to use its territory as a launchpad for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine, Poland, and Baltic states have repeatedly raised concerns over increasing military activity in Belarus, where Russia plans to station Oreshnik missiles by year-end. 'Of course, we will work out the plan for using this type of weaponry together with our Russian colleagues,' said Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin when asked if the drills would involve Oreshnik missiles. Russia tested its experimental Oreshnik missile without a nuclear warhead in Ukraine's Dnipro city in late 2024. 'We see the situation on our western and northern borders and can't just sit and watch the militarisation and military activity there,' Khrenin told the Belta news agency. Initial reports from Russian state media indicated around 13,000 soldiers would participate, though final numbers remain undisclosed. The Zapad-2025 exercises, scheduled for 12-16 September, typically involve tens of thousands of troops demonstrating military strength near Belarus's border with EU and NATO states. Approximately 200,000 troops took part in the 2021 edition, held months before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. – AFP
