Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the deployment of Russia's Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system in Belarus creates new risks for Europe, particularly for Belarus's immediate neighbours.

Oreshnik is a terrible weapon. It will be put on combat alert in December,’ says Belarusian president - Anadolu Ajansı

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ramped up nuclear threats, declaring that Russia’s new “Oreshnik” missile system will soon be put on “combat duty”—ready for use if Western provocation continues.

Belarus will deploy Russia's new Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile system in December, Russian state-run TASS news agency reported on Tuesday, citing Natalya Eismont, spokesperson for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Russia has agreed a deal with Belarus to deploy its Oreshnik ballistic missiles to the allied country, in a move that significantly escalates military threats to Europe. The hypersonic ballistic missile was first deployed in Ukraine in November of last year.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warned bluntly that Belarus — alongside Russia — will strike back if provoked, singling out the new weapons system ORESHNIK as a deterrent “to make it clear we can strike back if things go badly.

Lukashenko's regime has named new deadlines for Oreshnik deliveries. Now the Russian medium-range ballistic missile "Oreshnik" will allegedly be delivered by the end of the year. This was stated by the dictator's press secretary Natalya Eismont, BelTA reports.