Belarus’s Defense Ministry has announced the start of drills involving units responsible for the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support. According to the Belarusian military agency, the exercises are being held jointly with Russia.
The ministry said one of the aims of the training is to test whether weapons and equipment are ready for “carrying out missions and organizing combat use from unplanned areas.”
The agency added that particular attention will be paid to concealment of movement, long-distance marches, and the calculations required for the use of forces and assets. It also said the exercise is planned, is not directed against third countries, and poses no threat to regional security.
Nuclear weapons in Belarus
Since 2023, Russia has begun deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, including the Iskander and Oreshnik missile systems. Moscow says it is not violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty because it is not transferring the munitions to Minsk and retains control over them.
Later, in 2024, Belarusian troops took part in exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces held in Russia. At the same time, no similar drills had previously been reported on Belarusian territory itself.
Journalist and military expert Ilya Volzhsky told Novaya-Europe that such exercises are held regularly in Russia. However, he said this is the first time that training of this kind has been conducted in Belarus.
Volzhsky also said that an event of this type requires careful preparation and is unlikely to be a response to the Ukrainian Armed Forces drone attack on Moscow that took place overnight into Sunday.