May 19, Pozirk. A joint Belarusian–Russian drill that kicked off in Russia on May 19 will rehearse the use of nuclear weapons deployed in the territory of Belarus, according to the Russian defense ministry.
The maneuvers focus on “training and the use of nuclear forces” to deal with the “threat of aggression.”
The exercise will include training events to boost the combat readiness and support system of Russia’s nuclear forces and to practice “launches of ballistic and cruise missiles at training grounds in the territory of the Russian Federation.”
In a statement on May 18, Belarus’ defense ministry said that the exercise was designed to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces to use modern weapons, including “special” munitions. The drill will reportedly aim to improve personnel training, test the readiness of weapons and military and special-purpose equipment for performing their functions and involve combat operations from “non-preplanned areas.”
Units of the missile and air forces have been deployed for the exercise, during which Belarus and Russia reportedly plan to rehearse the delivery of nuclear munitions and preparations for their use.
The ministry said the exercise focuses on covert operations, troop movements across long distances and calculations related to the deployment of forces and equipment. It stressed that the drill is a part of scheduled Union State training activities, which are not directed against third countries and pose no threat to regional security.
Paviel Muraviejka, first deputy defense minister/chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus, is reportedly in charge of the maneuvers.
The exercise has drawn immediate backlash from Ukraine, which called for new sanctions against Belarus. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja warned that Alaksandar Łukašenka was leading Belarus to “big trouble.”
Łukašenka and other officials have repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons in the event of an attack.
“You don’t touch us, and you can forget about nuclear weapons. But if you carry out an act of aggression, we will respond immediately. The targets have been determined,” he told foreign journalists in Minsk on July 6, 2023.
Earlier, he said he had ordered the army to point its missiles at Europe’s decision-making centers.
Russia claimed to have deployed nuclear weapons to Belarus in 2023.
