Łukašenka, Putin agree on training aircraft crews to carry “specific munitions”

December 19, BPN. Special military aircraft crews will receive training in Belarus, Alaksandr Łukašenka said following talks with Vladimir Putin in Minsk on December 19.

“We prepared the aircraft. It turned out that we had these aircraft since Soviet times. We tested them in Russia and, together with the Russians, we are now training the crews able to fly them carrying specific munitions,” Łukašenka said.

“This is not a threat to anyone. I have informed you several times that, as you say, we are very concerned about the tension along the Union State borders, primarily in the west. And we would have to protect the Belarusian state. You have taken a decisive and very important step in support of Belarus. Once again, I am very grateful to you,” he told Putin.

Łukašenka added that Belarus put on combat duty the S-400 and Iskander missile systems delivered by Russia.

During a visit to a mechanical plant in Minsk on August 26, Łukašenka had threatened the West with nuclear weapons. Commenting on Operation Atlantic Resolve, he said in an apparent reference to NATO that “no helicopters or planes will save them if they escalate.” According to Łukašenka, Russia re-equipped Belarus’ Sukhoi aircraft for delivering nuclear munitions. The military command of Belarus identified “decision-making centers” that “will be hit in the event of provocation,” the Belarusian strongman added.