Belarus, which has Russian nuclear weapons on its territory, said on Monday that its armed forces had begun training for their field deployment, Reuters reports.
"During the training, in cooperation with the Russian side, it is planned to practice the delivery of nuclear ammunition and its preparation for use," the Belarusian Ministry of Defense said.
It is stated that the exercise will test the military's readiness to deploy nuclear weapons in different parts of the country.
"The emphasis will be on practicing stealth, movement over significant distances, and calculation for the use of forces and equipment," the ministry said.
Belarus borders Russia, Ukraine, and three NATO members.
President Alexander Lukashenko has agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles in 2023, a year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that Moscow retains control over their use.
Throughout the conflict, Putin has been reminding us of Russia's nuclear power, which the West has interpreted as warnings not to get too involved in supporting Ukraine.
Last week, Putin said that Russia would deploy a new Sarmat nuclear missile by the end of the year and that Moscow would continue to modernize its nuclear forces.
Belarus has stated that the current exercise is not directed against any other country and does not pose a security threat in the region.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
