Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Ukraine and NATO countries should refrain from actions against Belarus so that the Oreshnik missile system deployed on its territory would not have to be used. He made the statement while speaking with journalists during a working trip to the Mogilev region.

The head of state commented on statements from the Ukrainian side that the Oreshnik system deployed in Belarus could be considered a legitimate target for NATO. Lukashenko called such remarks foolish and stressed that Belarus does not set the task of striking cities such as Vilnius, Warsaw, or Kiev. According to him, the main purpose of deploying the system is to protect the country. He added that if there are no attempts to encroach on Belarus from Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia, there will be no reason to use the Oreshnik system.

Lukashenko also said he was not threatening other countries but would not remain passive if facilities on Belarusian territory were declared legitimate targets for strikes. He noted that Belarus possesses weapons capable of hitting targets at distances of tens and hundreds of kilometers and advised against making aggressive statements. The president also emphasized the mobility of the Oreshnik system, saying its launcher is difficult to detect. As an example, he described a scenario in which satellites might see ten Oreshnik launchers moving to positions while in reality only one would be real. Such use of decoys complicates the detection and neutralization of the system.

The Russian Oreshnik missile system was deployed in Belarus at Lukashenko’s request in December 2025 and soon afterward entered combat duty. On December 18, Lukashenko said the system had already arrived in the country and was beginning its operational service. Later he clarified that no more than ten such systems would be deployed in Belarus. On December 30, 2025, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the Oreshnik system had officially gone on combat duty in Belarus.