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‘Something big taking place’: Why has Russia sent more nukes to Belarus?
Russia’s ally participated in joint drills for the first time. Analysts say it was a risky move for Minsk.
Kyiv, Ukraine – Earlier this week, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for the first time took part in the “rehearsal” of Russia’s use of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons.
Between Tuesday and Thursday, he and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin presided over joint military drills that covered the area from Eastern Europe to the Pacific and involved hundreds of Russian missile launchers, warplanes, warships and nuclear submarines.
“We threaten absolutely no one,” said Lukashenko, a 71-year-old former collective farm director who has helmed his ex-Soviet nation since 1994. “But we have such weapons, and we’re ready in every possible way to defend our common fatherland from [the western Belarusian city of] Brest to [Russia’s Pacific port of] Vladivostok.”
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Russia and Belarus completed their combined nuclear exercises on May 21, highlighting Russia’s ability to leverage Belarus for future Russian military operations and Russia’s deepening de facto control over Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko presided over the second stage of combined Russian-Belarusian nuclear force exercises on May 21.[1] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces delivered nuclear munitions to Belarus and that Belarusian forces practiced receiving, equipping, and moving specialized munitions and launch vehicles for the Iskander-M ballistic missile system.[2] The Russian MoD claimed that the exercises included the launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome, a Zircon hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea, a Sineva ICBM from a submerged nuclear-powered strategic submarine, cruise missiles from Tu-95MS aircraft, a Kinzhal hypersonic missile from MiG-31I aircraft, and an Iskander-M missile from the Kapustin Yar Training Ground.[3] The Russian MoD claimed that elements of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, Northern and Pacific Fleets, Long-Range Aviation (Russian Aerospace Forces [VKS]), and Leningrad and Central Military Districts took part in the missile launches.[4] Putin claimed that Russia and Belarus plan to hold the biennial “Union Shield” exercises in 2027. The next Union Shield exercises may include a nuclear component for the first time.
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