Belarus Opposition Leader Warns of Russian Nuclear Missile Deployment Near EU
Belarus’s exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has warned that Vladimir Putin is moving nuclear missiles closer to the border of the European Union, accusing Belarus of helping Russia escalate its war in Ukraine.
Speaking on the situation, Tsikhanouskaya said Europe must pay closer attention to developments inside Belarus, where she said the authorities were allowing Russia to expand its military presence.
She said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, was facilitating Russian aggression by permitting increased deployment of Russian forces and weapons on Belarusian territory.
“We see how on Belarusian territory, Mr Lukashenko’s regime intensifies the presence of Russia. They are about to deploy nuclear weapons, Russian missiles,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
She added that Volodymyr Zelensky, whom she met recently, was aware of the risks, warning that further escalation could affect not only Ukraine but also European countries.
“This escalation might affect not only Ukraine but also European countries. So we have to put more attention on what is happening in Belarus,” she said.
In December, Russia’s Ministry of Defence released footage it said showed the deployment of a nuclear-capable missile system at an airbase in eastern Belarus. Lukashenko also stated that 10 Oreshnik systems, described as intermediate-range, nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missile systems, would be stationed in the country.
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