Belarus Starts Training Exercises With Russian Nuclear Weapons
En resumen
- Belarus announced Monday it has begun training exercises involving Russian nuclear weapons, a move Ukraine condemned as a dangerous precedent.
- The Belarusian Defense Ministry stated the drills test readiness to deploy nuclear munitions, while Ukraine urged tighter sanctions and warned of potential attacks.
Resumen generado por IA
Por qué importa
Belarus announced Monday the start of training exercises involving Russian nuclear weapons, a move that follows a 2023 agreement to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles and a 2024 revised nuclear doctrine placing Belarus under the Russian nuclear umbrella. Ukraine has expressed strong opposition.
Belarus announced on Monday the start of training exercises involving Russian nuclear weapons, drawing wide condemnation from neighboring Ukraine.
In 2023, one year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed Moscow's control over the missiles' use.
In 2024, the Kremlin released a revised nuclear doctrine that placed Belarus under the Russian nuclear umbrella.
Belarus shares a border with Russia, Ukraine and three members of the NATO alliance.
What did Belarus say about the nuclear drills?
In a statement on Monday, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said the drills would test its readiness to deploy nuclear weapons in different areas of the country.
"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 ministry said.
It added that the exercises would focus on "practising stealth, movement over significant distances, and calculations for the use of forces and equipment."
The ministry stressed the exercise was not aimed against any other country and posed no security threats in the region.
How has Ukraine responded to the nuclear drills?
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry lambasted the drills, urging Western allies to further tighten sanctions on Russia and Belarus.
"By turning Belarus into its nuclear staging ground near NATO borders, the Kremlin is de facto legitimizing the proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide and setting a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes," the Ukrainian ministry said.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was seeking to draw Belarus deeper into its war in Ukraine. He suggested Russia was considering plans to launch an attack from Belarus on Ukraine or a NATO member.
The Kremlin on Monday denied Zelenskyy's accusations.
"Such a statement is nothing other than an attempt at further incitement aimed at prolonging the war and escalating tensions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
Preguntas abiertas
- What specific types of nuclear weapons are involved in the drills?
- What is the duration of the training exercises?
- Will NATO members take any specific actions in response to these drills?
- What is the exact nature of Russia's control over the use of these weapons?
