Belarus Russia nuclear drills to practise tactical weapons use, defence ministry says

Belarus said it began joint drills with Russia on Monday. The exercises were linked to nuclear weapons Russia has stationed in Belarus. Belarus is a close ally of Moscow and borders Ukraine. It also borders NATO members Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. Officials said the training will test how units would deliver nuclear weapons and prepare for use.

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The Belarusian Defence Ministry said missile units and warplanes will take part. The ministry said forces will rehearse moving in secret over long distances. It added the manoeuvres were arranged earlier and were not directed at any other country. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has allowed Russia to place some tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Belarus nuclear weapons drills with Russia: what officials said

The ministry described the aim in a statement. "During the exercise, in cooperation with the Russian side, it is planned to practice the delivery of nuclear weapons and preparations for their use,\" the statement said. Belarusian officials also said the drills were planned in advance. They said the moves were not aimed against any third countries.

The drills followed wider steps that tied Belarus closer to Russia’s nuclear plans. In 2024, the Kremlin issued a revised nuclear doctrine. The update placed Belarus under the Russian nuclear umbrella. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will keep control of the weapons. Putin also said Belarus can choose targets during conflict.

Belarus nuclear weapons drills with Russia: Oreshnik missile details

In December, Russia said the Oreshnik missile system entered service in Belarus. Russia said the system is nuclear-capable and intermediate range. Intermediate-range missiles can fly 500 to 5,500 kilometres. That equals 310 to 3,400 miles. Such missiles were banned under a Soviet-era treaty. Washington and Moscow left that treaty in 2019.

Russia has used a conventional Oreshnik to hit facilities in Ukraine twice. Those strikes happened in November 2024 and January. Putin said Oreshnik’s multiple warheads drop at speeds up to Mach 10. Putin also said they cannot be intercepted. Putin claimed several conventional missiles could be as destructive as nuclear use.

Belarus nuclear weapons drills with Russia: politics and opposition reaction

Lukashenko has led Belarus, with 9.5 million people, for over three decades. Western governments have imposed repeated sanctions on the government. They cited human rights crackdowns and support for Russia’s war effort. Belarus allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory for the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya criticised the exercises. Tsikhanouskaya said the Russian deployment made Belarus a target. \"Lukashenko has turned Belarus into a platform for Russian threats, but Belarusians dont need these weapons,\" Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. \"Only a free Belarus will become a source of security, not nuclear blackmail, in Europe.\"

With inputs from PTI