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"On Point"
MINSK, 25 December (BelTA) – In the latest episode of the V Teme [On Point] project on BelTA’s YouTube channel, Candidate of Military Sciences Andrei Bogodel, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Education and Science – Head of the Education and Methodology Department of the Faculty of the General Staff of the Armed Forces at the Military Academy of Belarus, detailed the capabilities of the Oreshnik missile systems.
The expert explained that while delivering the missiles to Belarus was not a problem, significant preparatory work was required. “Everything was approached very carefully. We considered how to deploy them, what they were needed for, and whether they would be excessive or not,” Andrei Bogodel noted. “To be frank, we couldn’t scan 5,500 kilometers with our reconnaissance yesterday. To do this, we first had to establish a satellite constellation in the western strategic direction. We are not operating in a vacuum; we are operating jointly with the Russian Federation within our unified regional group of forces. Before putting it on combat duty, we needed reconnaissance assets and we had to figure out where the targets were. Simply put, is the Oreshnik missile designed to strike stationary or slow-moving targets. What kind of targets? These are decision-making centers.”
He stressed, however, that Belarus is not issuing threats. “We certainly aren’t threatening anyone. But still, no one should mess with us,” he stated.
Andrei Bogodel added that deploying the Oreshnik system necessitated building the necessary infrastructure. “A whole range of measures has been taken to site and move these systems. Entire launch areas needed to be created. The first line of defense has just been established, containing the launch sites. These aren’t just places to periodically roll out a system; they include primary, backup, temporary, and decoy sites. Can you imagine the scale?” he explained.
He described Oreshnik as a complex system integrating far more than the launchers themselves. It also encompasses a mobile, protected command post, support and security vehicles, engineering support and camouflage units to conceal movements, electronic warfare systems, and reconnaissance conducted by UAVs. “This is a complete system ensuring not just effective deployment and launch, but also survivability, timely positioning, concealment, and a host of logistical details. A range of issues needed to be resolved and consolidated, and today this system is operational,” Andrei Bogodel said.
The expert emphasized that Oreshnik is an effective hypersonic system. “It has no analogues and can be used in both nuclear and non-nuclear configurations,” he noted. “At the same time, we must understand that this missile system won’t work on its own. A fairly extensive set of preparatory measures is taken beforehand. And when a system such as the Oreshnik is activated, it signifies, in essence, that matters have escalated to the point of Armageddon. This prospect of Armageddon must be carefully weighed by both the military command and the political-military leadership. There must be absolute clarity on the situation and a firm assurance that all other options have been exhausted.”
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