Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin spoke via videoconference during a joint training exercise involving military units responsible for the combat use of nuclear weapons, BelTA reports.
Lukashenka joined the call from the command centre of the Belarusian Ministry of Defence. He noted that this was the first such joint exercise.
“But it turns out that, in terms of elements and components, our general staffs and defence ministers conduct it every quarter. But without us. You and I discussed during the winter the prospect of participation by the presidents,” the Belarusian ruler said. “I fully support you — we are absolutely not threatening anyone. But we have such weapons and we are ready in every possible way to defend our common homeland from Brest to Vladivostok. If something is in our hands, we must know how to use it.”
“Vladimir Vladimirovich, I visited all the facilities around, inspected everything in Belarus — in the east and in the centre — all are in good condition. Russian generals are here, whom I spoke with. They are satisfied with our joint work,” he said.
“I think the planned activities will proceed normally. Naturally, whoever wants to see something in this will see it. But this is our business, we are engaged in a lawful matter and will continue doing so while protecting the lives of our people,” Lukashenka added.
In Asipovichy District, he inspected the missile brigade’s vehicle fleet, visited the command post and observed a demonstration of the Iskander-M launcher and a simulated nuclear missile strike carried out electronically.
“All actions were carried out as they would have been in a real combat situation. With one important exception — there was no actual missile launch,” the report said.
As a reminder, the nuclear weapons training exercise has been taking place in Belarus since May 19. Russia is conducting nuclear manoeuvres simultaneously. As reported by the Russian Defence Ministry this morning, nuclear munitions were delivered to field storage sites as part of the exercise. Today, Aliaksandr Lukashenka arrived at the missile brigade’s location, where he was briefed on the concept of the exercise.
