Russia and Belarus stage joint nuclear weapons drills
Russia and Belarus have held joint military drills to practise the use of Russian nuclear weapons, according to the Belarus defence ministry. The exercise took place on Monday and included aviation and missile forces, the ministry said. It said the training covered the delivery of nuclear munitions and preparation for their use in cooperation with Russia.
Sponsored
The ministry said the scheduled training was not directed against third countries and did not pose a threat to regional security. Russia deployed its Oreshnik hypersonic, nuclear-capable missile to Belarus last year, and the two countries have since deepened military coordination. The drills come after Russia revised its nuclear doctrine in 2024 to place Belarus under its nuclear umbrella.
The exercise adds to already high tensions along NATO's eastern flank. Belarus has been a key military partner for Moscow and was used as a staging post for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week ordered troops to reinforce the border with Belarus in the north, saying Moscow could be preparing a new offensive from there.
The Kremlin rejected Zelensky's claim on Monday, calling it an attempt at further incitement. Ukraine's foreign ministry condemned the drills, saying the deployment of tactical weapons in Belarus was an unprecedented challenge to global security. It said turning Belarus into a nuclear staging ground near NATO borders set a dangerous precedent.
Sponsored
Belarus is ruled by Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, and depends heavily on Moscow economically and militarily. That dependence has made Belarus central to Russia's regional military posture, particularly since the war in Ukraine began. The latest drill underlines how nuclear signalling has become part of the broader confrontation between Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and NATO.
What remains unclear is how long the exercise will last and whether any further details will be released on the scope of the training. It is also not clear whether the drill is linked to any broader Russian force movements near the Belarusian border. The next developments to watch are any response from NATO members, further Ukrainian military measures, and whether Moscow or Minsk provide additional information on the drill's objectives.
Sponsored
