Military Training in Belarus involving Russian nuclear weapons

Belarus announced that it has launched military training involving Russian nuclear weapons. Neighboring Ukraine strongly condemned this training. In 2023, a year after Russia's attack on Ukraine, Belarusn President Alexander Lukashenko agreed to deploy Russian tactical missiles on Belarus's territory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed that control over the use of these missiles remains in Moscow's hands.

In 2024 The Kremlin published a revised nuclear doctrine, under which Belarus is included under Russia's <x0->Multhrell, broadcast Periscope.

Belarus has common borders with Russia, Ukraine and three NATO alliance member states.

Belarus for Nuclear Training

In a statement made Monday (18.05). Belarus's Defence Ministry said the exercises will test its readiness to deploy nuclear weapons in various areas of the country.

The “in co-operation with the Russian side during the exercise is scheduled to undergo the transport of nuclear ammunition and their preparation for use”, the statement said.

The ministry added that the exercise will focus on “practice of secret actions, large distance movement and calculations for use of forces and equipment”. The ministry also stressed that the exercise is not directed against any other country and poses no threat to security in the region.

Ukraine's Reactions to Nuclear Training

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the exercise, and called on Western allies to further rig sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

By turning Belarus into a base for the deployment of nuclear weapons near NATO's Kremlin borders is actually legitimising the spread of nuclear weapons worldwide and creating a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes”, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

Last week Ukrainian President Volodyyr Zelenski warned that Moscow is trying to include Belarus even deeper in the fight against Ukraine. He said Russia is considering plans to launch an attack by Belarusn territory against Ukraine or a NATO member state. The Kremlin denied Zelensky's charges Monday. “This statement is but another attempt to promote, with the aim of prolonging the war and escalation of” tensions, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. /DW/