EditBelarus says it wants to develop its own nuclear missile arsenal
The country has abandoned its non-nuclear status and is already hosting Russian nuclear-capable short-range Iskander missiles
Belarus is assessing how best to ramp up domestic production of missiles, including exploring how to equip its Polonez rocket launcher systems with nuclear warheads, a senior Belarusian security official said on Thursday (21 August).
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, said this week it would deepen bilateral ties with Iran, and has also cooperated with China on weapons development. It does not possess its own nuclear weapons but hosts Russian tactical ones which remain under Moscow’s control.
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President Alexander Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994, told officials at a meeting on weapons manufacturing on Thursday that Minsk needs to modernise and develop its missile production.
“The dynamics of military threats and the significant increase in military spending by our western neighbours force us to constantly pay close attention to the issue of the defence capabilities of Belarus, Russia, and our Union,” Lukashenko was quoted as saying by state media.
Belarus borders Poland, Lithuania and Latvia – all NATO members – to the west and north, while in the south it borders Ukraine.
Alexander Volfovich, head of Belarus’ State Security Council, told reporters that Minsk was exploring how to arm its Polonez rocket artillery system with nuclear warheads.
“Today, it is a state-of-the art system,” Volfovich was quoted by the Belta state news agency as saying. “Questions are already being raised about equipping these missiles with nuclear warheads.”
The Polonez system, in service since 2016, was jointly developed with China, Volfovich said. The launcher now has a range of 300 km (185 miles), up from 200 km previously.
⚠️ Belarus is evaluating ways to boost domestic missile production and exploring nuclear warhead integration for its Polonez Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems.
It does not possess its own nuclear weapons but hosts Russian tactical ones which remain under Moscow's control
The… pic.twitter.com/qASsJHcEfX
— Vanguard Intel Group 🛡 (@vanguardintel) August 21, 2025
Volfovich said Belarus was also exploring how to integrate the technology of the Oreshnik, a Russian-made, intermediate-range hypersonic missile, to create a “joint missile”.
Belarus’ defence minister said last week that upcoming joint exercises between Minsk and Moscow would include drills involving the Oreshnik, which Russia has used against Ukraine.
“Issues related to increasing our power and our defence capabilities are very important,” Volfovich said.
In 2022, Belarus amended its constitution to remove its non-nuclear status, paving the way for hosting Russian nuclear weapons. This move reversed Belarus’s earlier commitment under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where it relinquished Soviet-era nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed in June 2023 that the first batch of tactical nuclear warheads had been delivered to Belarus, with storage facilities completed by July 1, 2023, for use with Iskander systems and Su-25 aircraft. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has also stated that these missiles are operational in Belarus, with Russia retaining control over their use.
These developments have raised concerns among NATO members, particularly Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, due to Belarus’s proximity to their borders.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: Belarus is evaluating ways to boost domestic missile production and exploring nuclear warhead integration for its Polonez Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems. [@vanguardintel on X]
Updated: August 22, 2025 - 06:23
