Lukashenko says he has already put Russian S-400s and Iskanders into service
Russia promised Belarus these missile complexes six months ago (Photo:mil.in.ua)
Belarus has put into service S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems and Iskander ballistic missile systems received from Russia, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has said.
Lukashenko was speaking during his meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Dec. 19.
“Thanks you, Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin), we found mutual understanding, support and made the necessary decisions on all topics,” said Lukashenko.
“Special thanks to you, and not only from the military, for keeping your promise. Today we put the S-400 complex, which you handed over to Belarus, on combat duty. And the most important thing is the Iskander complex, which you also promised six months ago.”
In addition, Lukashenko said that the Russian Federation would train Belarusian pilots to fly planes that carry “munitions with a special warhead.”
Russia deployed three MiG-31K fighter jets, which can carry the nuclear-capable, hypersonic Kinzhal cruise missile, to Belarus on Oct. 16.
The arrival of military transport planes in Belarus from Russia was also observed on the same day, leading to speculation that Russia also sent Kinzhal missiles. The missiles have a range of 2,000 kilometers.
“I would like to emphasize that this form of cooperation is not our invention,” Putin said.
“The United States has been conducting similar activities with its allies within the NATO bloc for decades.”
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