Belarus begins nuclear weapons drills with Russia
Minsk claims drills pose no security threats in the region, but Kyiv urges tightened sanctions in response
Belarus said on Monday its armed forces had begun training exercises involving Russian nuclear weapons, in a move that drew strong condemnation from Ukraine.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed in 2023 – a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear that Moscow retains control of their use.
“During the training, in cooperation with the Russian side, it is planned to practise the delivery of nuclear munitions and their preparation for use,” the Belarusian Defence Ministry said in a statement.
It said the exercise would test the military’s readiness to deploy nuclear weapons in different areas of the country.
“The emphasis will be on practising stealth, movement over significant distances, and calculations for the use of forces and equipment,” the ministry said.
Belarus – which shares borders with Russia, Ukraine and three Nato states – said the exercise was not aimed against any other country and did not pose security threats in the region.