Belarus announced on Monday the start of training exercises involving Russian nuclear weapons, drawing widespread condemnation from neighboring Ukraine. The drills are designed to test the country's readiness to deploy nuclear weapons in various areas.

In 2023, a year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed Moscow's control over the missiles' use. In 2024, the Kremlin released a revised nuclear doctrine that placed Belarus under the Russian nuclear umbrella.

Belarus shares borders with Russia, Ukraine, and three NATO member states. The Belarusian Defense Ministry stated that the exercises would practice 'the delivery of nuclear munitions and their preparation for use' in cooperation with the Russian side. It emphasized that the drills are not directed against any country and pose no security threats.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry lambasted the exercises, urging Western allies to tighten sanctions on Russia and Belarus. 'By turning Belarus into its nuclear staging ground near NATO borders, the Kremlin is de facto legitimizing the proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide and setting a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes,' the ministry said.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was seeking to draw Belarus deeper into its war in Ukraine, suggesting Russia might be planning an attack from Belarus. The Kremlin denied these accusations on Monday, calling them an attempt to prolong the war and escalate tensions.

Source: www.dw.com