UN researcher doubts presence of Russian nukes in Belarus

December 11, Pozirk. There is no evidence that Russian nuclear warheads have been delivered to Belarus, Pavel Podvig, a senior researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), has told The Insider.
His conclusion mirrors a similar report by the BelPol association of former Belarusian law enforcers issued about two weeks ago.
Alaksandar Łukašenka’s statements about the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus should be taken with a grain of salt, Podvig noted.
Most likely, Minsk does not have nuclear warheads, he said, noting that the Russian system of handling nuclear warheads excludes the possibility of their transportation to Belarus. Western intelligence agencies did not report the transfer of nuclear weapons, he added.
Russian nukes are likely to be stored at a centralized storage facility, with the closest one to Belarus located in Russia’s Bryansk province, Podvig said.
Nuclear weapons require security, including bunkers with steel doors, heavily guarded deforested premises and a lot of personnel, he noted. Even though Minsk was reportedly engaged in the construction of a similar facility, it does not mean that real nuclear weapons are there, he added.
Minsk allowed Russia to deploy tactical nuclear munitions in Belarus last spring. In late 2023, Łukašenka confirmed their delivery. Yesterday, he reiterated that he allowed Russia to deliver dozens of nuclear warheads.
A leaked CIA report suggested that nukes might be stored in the Mahiloŭ region yet doubts persist as to their presence in Belarus.
BelPol: no evidence of Russian nukes in Belarus
- SocietyLithuania arrests six over cigarette smuggling from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyVacancies for foreigners in Belarus up 23 percent in two monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityDrone attack disrupts Russia-bound flights from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoE body head ready to foster ties between Belarus’ opposition and UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyNew apartment construction down 23 percent since 2021 in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka criticizes government over MAZ plant’s performanceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Security, SocietyLithuania arrests another border guard in Belarus-linked smuggling caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine, Russia swap prisoners in Belarus in 11th exchange this yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityKubrakoŭ reports surge in cyberattacks targeting interior ministry this yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, PoliticsŁukašenka slams Belarusian manufacturer of Stadler trainsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyMozambique president interested in boosting economic ties, Belarusian foreign ministry saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPoland seizes 21,000 packs of cigarettes smuggled using balloonsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsForty people removed from “terrorist” list since MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyMore migrants cross irregularly from Belarus into LithuaniaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus reports 4-percent rise in unprofitable companies since 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus welcomes France’s tough stance on suppressing unrest – foreign ministryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBryansk governor: Belarusian truck driver wounded in drone strikeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka reassures Moscow of Belarus' commitment to military allianceThe material is available only to POZIRK+



