Russia, Belarus announce nuclear drills

Belarus said on May 18 that its armed forces had begun training with Russia on how to deploy nuclear weapons in the field, opening a new round of drills involving missile units and military aviation on NATO’s eastern edge. The Belarusian Defence Ministry said the exercise would include the delivery of nuclear munitions and preparations for their use in coordination with the Russian side. The statement said the training would test whether forces could move, conceal and operate from different areas across Belarus. Reuters reported that Belarus said the exercise was not directed against any other state and did not threaten regional security. ### What exactly did Belarus say the drill would cover? The Belarusian Defence Ministry said the exercise would practise “the delivery of nuclear munitions and their preparation for use” with Russia. The ministry said the drill would also test the military’s readiness to deploy nuclear weapons in different parts of the country and would emphasize stealth, long-distance movement and calculations for the use of forces and equipment. (usnews.com) The Moscow Times, citing the Belarusian statement, said missile units and air force detachments were involved. That account said the exercise focused on moving and deploying nuclear weapons from unplanned launch sites. ### Why is Belarus central to this story? Belarus shares borders with Russia, Ukraine and three NATO states, giving any nuclear-related exercise there immediate significance for countries on the alliance’s eastern flank. (usnews.com) Reuters reported that President Alexander Lukashenko agreed in 2023 to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles, a year after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (themoscowtimes.com) President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow retains control over the use of those weapons, according to Reuters. That arrangement has allowed Russia to place nuclear-capable systems closer to NATO territory while keeping formal launch authority in Russian hands. ### How does this connect to Russia’s recent weapons moves? (usnews.com) Last week, Putin said Russia would deploy its new Sarmat nuclear missile by the end of 2026 and continue modernising its nuclear forces, Reuters reported. That statement came days before Belarus announced the latest training. The Moscow Times said the May 18 drill was the first such exercise since Moscow deployed its Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile system to Belarusian territory. (usnews.com) Reuters did not include that detail in the report reviewed here, so that characterization remains based on The Moscow Times’ account. ### What have Belarus and Russia said about the purpose? (usnews.com) Belarus said the exercise was planned and was not aimed at third countries. The ministry said it posed no threat to regional security. Reuters said Putin has repeatedly invoked Russia’s nuclear forces during the war in Ukraine, and Western governments have treated those reminders as warnings against deeper intervention on Kyiv’s behalf. (themoscowtimes.com) That interpretation was attributed by Reuters to the West’s view of Moscow’s messaging. ### What is still not clear? (usnews.com) Russia’s Defence Ministry had not immediately commented, The Moscow Times said, and the public statements reviewed did not specify the length of the exercise, the number of troops involved or whether live launches were planned. The available accounts also did not identify the exact training areas inside Belarus. (usnews.com) May 18 statements from Belarus’s Defence Ministry are the clearest public marker of what comes next: missile forces and aviation units are to continue the training across Belarusian territory in coordination with Russian personnel, according to the ministry’s account cited by Reuters and other reports. (usnews.com) (themoscowtimes.com)