Putin Issues Chilling WW3 Threat as Hypersonic Nuclear Missiles Move Closer to the UK
Vladimir Putin has been openly praising a powerful new Russian missile, saying it can fly at around ten times the speed of sound and cannot be stopped by any existing defence system. He has claimed that there is currently no way for other countries to intercept or defend against it.
New analysis suggests Russia may now be moving this weapon closer to Europe by placing it at an old military base in neighbouring Belarus. If confirmed, this would put much of Europe within reach of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile, which is believed to have a range of roughly 3,100 to 3,400 miles.
Russian sources have claimed that if the missile were launched from Belarus, it could reach London in as little as eight minutes. That would be far quicker than launching it from Kapustin Yar in southern Russia. The missile was first used by Russia in November last year during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, after which Vladimir Putin publicly said it was impossible to intercept.
The strike was so intense and unusual that Ukrainian officials initially feared Russia might have used an intercontinental ballistic missile. Putin later clarified that the weapon used was the Oreshnik and repeated his claim that it travels at Mach 10, around ten times the speed of sound, and that there are no effective ways to stop it.
Two US-based researchers, Jeffrey Lewis and Decker Eveleth, say they believe the missiles are being stationed at a former airbase near the town of Krichev in eastern Belarus. Their conclusion is based on satellite images from commercial company Planet Labs, which they say show features typical of a Russian strategic missile base.
The researchers said they are about 90 percent certain that mobile Oreshnik launchers would be positioned at the site. The base is around 300 miles south-west of Moscow and about 190 miles east of Minsk, the Belarusian capital. Putin had previously spoken about possibly placing the missiles in Belarus during the second half of this year.
According to Reuters, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, said last week that the first Oreshnik missiles had already arrived in the country, with up to ten believed to be deployed. However, the researchers’ analysis suggests the site near Krichev could only hold three launchers, meaning the remaining missiles may be located elsewhere.
The findings are said to broadly match assessments made by US intelligence. Lukashenko has not said exactly where the missiles are being stored, while Belarusian state media quoted the defence minister as saying the deployment was a response to what he called “aggressive actions” by Western countries.
The developments come as Ukraine continues to face heavy attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Belarus of allowing Russia to launch strikes on Ukraine from residential areas. He said intelligence shows equipment used to guide attacks, including antennas for Shahed drones, has been placed on ordinary apartment buildings near the border.
Zelensky said this showed a complete disregard for human life and warned that Ukraine would inform its international partners and prepare joint responses. He added that Belarus was giving up its own sovereignty to support Russia’s war.
Overnight missile and drone attacks hit Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, just one day before planned peace talks between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in Florida. At least one person was killed and around 20 others were injured, according to local authorities.
