The Belarusian Ministry of Defense announced the start of training for units of combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support.
The purpose of the exercise, according to a statement issued by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, is, among other things, “to test the readiness of weapons and military and special equipment to perform tasks and organize combat use of unplanned areas.”
The main emphasis will be on exercising the issues of secrecy, movement over long distances, and making calculations for the use of forces and means.
The exercises are being conducted jointly with the Russian side, with which “it is planned to work on issues of delivering nuclear weapons and preparing them for use.”
The Belarusian Ministry of Defense stressed that the maneuvers were planned “and are not directed against third countries and do not pose a threat to security in the region.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus at the end of March 2023. He then announced that the Iskander missile system and 10 aircraft capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons had already been deployed in Belarus.
Russia claims that it is not violating the NPT because it does not transfer such weapons to Belarus, but only places them – under its control – on Belarusian territory.