Minsk announces start of joint nuclear training with Russia
Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, at a parade in Moscow on May 9, 2026 (Photo: Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS)
Belarus had begun planned drills involving the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support operations with Russia, insisting the exercises were not directed against third countries and posed no threat to regional security on May 18.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry said the drills are aimed at “improving the level of personnel training,” testing the army’s readiness to carry out assigned tasks and organizing combat operations from unplanned locations.
The exercises will be overseen by Belarusian army Chief of the General Staff Pavel Muraveiko.
Belarus said missile forces and aviation units were involved in the drills alongside troops from Russia, with the sides planning to practice the delivery of nuclear munitions and preparations for their use.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry said the main feature of the exercises would be testing readiness to deploy nuclear weapons from unprepared locations, including what it described as covert long-distance movements.
Nuclear weapons in Belarus
On May 25, 2023, the defense ministers of Russia and Belarus signed documents on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. The same day, Alexander Lukashenko said Russian nuclear weapons had already begun to be moved into Belarus.
In late December 2023, Lukashenko said the transfer of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus had been completed.
On May 15, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia continued attempts to draw Belarus into the war against Ukraine. He said possible scenarios included aggressive operations targeting Ukraine’s Chernihiv-Kyiv direction or one of NATO’s member states.
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