Soldier training in Russia
Belarus starts training on tactical nuclear weapons
4/4/2023 1:11 p.m
For the first time since the voluntary surrender of its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus is to receive nuclear missiles from Russia again. The Ministry of Defense in Minsk promptly announces that it will train its military on these.
Training on tactical nuclear weapons has begun for soldiers from the ex-Soviet Republic of Belarus. “The crews of the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile complex of the Belarusian missile forces went to Russia for practical training,” the Ministry of Defense said in Minsk.
The most important training content of the training at one of the Russian military training areas is practical knowledge in the preparation of the rockets. “Furthermore, the crews will study in detail the issues of maintenance and deployment of the Iskander-M tactical nuclear warheads,” it said.
At the end of March, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin announced the stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in the neighboring republic. The Moscow-dependent ruler in Minsk, Alexander Lukashenko, later threatened to use the missiles if the West wanted to invade and destroy Belarus. The stationing of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus aggravated strained relations between Russia and the West.
Putin: No contradiction to nuclear non-proliferation treaty
Putin said the deployment does not conflict with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which bans the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as Russia retains full control over the missiles. Lukashenko raised doubts when he claimed control of nuclear weapons in his address to the nation.
After voluntarily surrendering its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus is now receiving nuclear missiles for the first time since the 1990s. In Belarus, Lukashenko, who is politically and economically dependent on Putin, had called for these weapons to be stationed in Ukraine even before the war. He also had the constitution changed, which no longer stipulates a nuclear-weapon-free status.
Moscow confirms delivery of nuclear-capable Iskander-M
Meanwhile, Russia confirmed that it had handed over a nuclear-capable Iskander-M missile system to Belarus. “Some of the Belarusian aircraft of the fighter squadrons have been given the opportunity to strike enemy objects with nuclear weapons,” said Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu in Moscow. He also confirmed the start of training of Belarusian soldiers on Russian nuclear missiles.
According to Shoigu, Iskander-M missiles can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. The minister described the rearmament of the allied neighboring country as a reaction to western arms deliveries to Ukraine. Under these circumstances, Moscow strengthens the security of the union state between Russia and Belarus. Shoigu was convinced that Russia would win the war of aggression against Ukraine, which Moscow only calls military special operations.