June 10, Pozirk. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin has lashed out at Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis over his remark last week that Ukraine should be allowed to strike attack assets both in Russia and Belarus to defend itself.
“The Lithuanian foreign minister, in his militaristic frenzy, went as far as to actually call for a strike on Russian military facilities located on the territory of our country,” he told soldiers and officers today, while opening the second phase of a Belarusian-Russian joint tactical nuclear drill.
Some “hotheads in the West” are nurturing plans to use military force against Belarus after failing to instigate color revolutions, has added.
The general described the drill as routine training, denying Russia’s intention “to create any tension” in the region, defense ministry’s press office reported.
Belarus holds regular drills amid tension with the West over Russia’s war against Ukraine, in which Minsk supports the Kremlin.
On May 7, Alaksandar Łukašenka ordered the army to hold the drill involving delivering nuclear munitions to “missile and aviation military units, loading them onto launchers and attaching them to aircraft.”
The move came a day after the Russian General Staff announced preparations for a similar exercise.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War played down threats from Minsk and Moscow, noting that Russia is unlikely to use nuclear weapons.
Also read: Ukraine can strike both Russia, Belarus to defend itself – Lithuanian foreign minister
