In response to US missile shield in Europe Russia can deploy Topols in Belarus
10- 23.12.2008, 12:01
One of the responses of Russia to deployment of elements of the US missile shield in Europe could be placing Topol complexes in Belarus.
It has been stated by a source in the Russian military agency to Interfax.
“If the United States continues to bring elements of its strategic forces closer to Russia's borders, including missile-defence sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, which are aimed at the reduction of our nuclear deterrent, mobile Topol complexes could be placed in Belarus. I think that the level of strategic cooperation of the “union state” of Russia and Belarus would allow to settle the issue positively,” the source of the Defence Ministry said.
As said by him, such a step wouldn’t demand huge investments. In the Soviet time missile divisions were deployed not only in Russia, but in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Baltic States, Ukraine. At the moment, according to the source, missile infrastructure outside Russia remains in good condition only in Belarus. There is a network of roads in the missile launching area, fortified command posts.
As the ministry noted, there is no necessity to deploy mobile complexes of the new generation Topol-M in Belarus.
“Topol missiles’ term of service has been extended. It is a long-lasting missile. It is impossible to find an autonomous launching platform which is masked at the deployment site in dispersed dispositions,” the source underlined.
It should be noted that Topols were exactly the missiles of the missile regiments deployed in Belarus in Soviet time. A single-warhead missile with a solid rocket motor is on alert in the Strategic Missile Forces for 21 year. The grouping of the Strategic Missile Forces has about 500 missile complexes of 6 types, including about 300 Topol complexes.
As we have informed, a few days ago Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that deployment of US elements of missile shield threatens Belarus and “union ally” Russia.
And earlier it was said that Belarus cab deploy Russian missile complexes Iskander at its territory. However, as Lukashenka explained, the decision to buy Iskanders was adopted a few years ago. The deal was postponed “on financial reasons”, and according to the Belarusian leader, “in the near future” deployment of Russian missile complexes at the territory of Belarus “is not planned”. At the same time the countries have already agreed upon creation of a common regional air defense system.
