Belarus has announced that it is conducting training for military units in preparation for a nuclear weapons scenario. The Ministry of Defence of the country revealed that the military units will engage in an exercise with Russia to practice the delivery and readiness of nuclear munitions.
Major General Pavel Muraveiko, the First Deputy Minister of Defence of Belarus, stated that the military has initiated training in the combat use of nuclear weapons and support. The purpose of the exercise is to enhance personnel training, assess the readiness of the Armed Forces for assigned tasks, and arrange combat deployment from unanticipated locations.
The exercise involves the deployment of missile units and aircraft, with collaboration from the Russian side, although the specific extent of Russian participation is not fully disclosed. The emphasis of the exercise is on testing preparedness for executing combat operations from various areas across Belarus.
Additionally, the forces will be practicing concealment techniques, long-distance movement, and logistical calculations for deploying forces and assets. The Ministry emphasized that the exercise is not targeted at any third countries and does not present a security threat to the region.
These developments come following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be planning an offensive in the Baltics, potentially using Belarus as a launching point. The alleged plan could put nearby countries like Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia at risk due to their proximity to Belarus. Zelensky suggested that Russia is contemplating operations south and north of Belarusian territory, either towards Ukraine or directly targeting a NATO country from Belarus.