Belarus is considering the possibility of equipping its Polonez multiple launch rocket systems with nuclear warheads, a senior security official said this week.
According to Nasha Niva, State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Alexander Volfovich told reporters on Thursday that discussions are underway about the potential integration of nuclear payloads onto the Polonez platform.
“Today this is a modern complex. The range of the missiles was 200 kilometers, today these are missiles (with a range) of 300 kilometers. This is high-precision weaponry. Of course, any weapon requires adjustments and changes. Questions are already being raised about equipping these missiles with nuclear warheads,” Volfovich said.
Belarus currently does not possess its own nuclear weapons but hosts Russian tactical nuclear warheads on its territory. Moscow has stated that these warheads remain under Russian control. Should Minsk pursue the adaptation of its Polonez systems to carry nuclear warheads, it would mark a departure from existing arrangements and raise questions over compliance with international treaties.
The Polonez launcher is based on the Chinese A-200 and A-300 rocket systems, mounted on a Belarusian MZKT-7930 chassis. The system has been promoted by Minsk as an indigenous capability, though its development relied heavily on Chinese technology.
If nuclear warheads were fitted to the Polonez, Belarusian forces could potentially exercise control over nuclear-capable launchers, an outcome that would challenge long-standing agreements limiting nuclear sharing outside of established frameworks.
Russia has repeatedly emphasized that while tactical nuclear weapons are stored in Belarus, command and control remain entirely with Moscow. Volfovich’s remarks suggest that Minsk is nonetheless exploring greater autonomy in nuclear-related capabilities.
In addition to the Polonez discussions, Volfovich said Belarus is also examining the potential integration of Russian hypersonic missile technology. He referenced the “Oreshnik” intermediate-range hypersonic missile system as a candidate for a joint development program. The official characterized it as an opportunity for a “joint missile complex,” though he provided no details on timelines or technical requirements.
Belarus’ pursuit of these options comes amid heightened military cooperation with Russia and the stationing of Russian nuclear weapons inside its borders earlier this year. Western officials have warned that such moves increase instability in Europe and blur the lines of nuclear responsibility between Moscow and Minsk.