Nuclear Weapons Combat Use Drill Begins in Belarus

A drill involving military units responsible for the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support has begun in Belarus, the Belarusian Defense Ministry’s press service reported.

“Today, in the interests of increasing the readiness of the Armed Forces to use modern means of destruction, including special munitions, a drill of military units responsible for the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support has begun under the leadership of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces – First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Belarus,” the statement said.

The Defense Ministry specified that the aim of the drill is “to improve the level of personnel training, test the readiness of weapons, military and special equipment to perform assigned tasks, and organize combat use from unscheduled deployment areas.”

Missile forces and aviation units are involved in the exercise. During the drill, in cooperation with the Russian side, plans include practicing the delivery of nuclear munitions and preparing them for use.

“The main feature of this event will be testing readiness to carry out combat-use tasks from unprepared areas across the entire territory of the Republic of Belarus. The main focus will be on issues of concealment, movement over long distances, and conducting calculations for the use of forces and means,” the Defense Ministry noted.

According to the Belarusian side, the “drill is a planned training event within the framework of the Union State, is not directed against third countries, and poses no threat to security in the region.”

It should be noted that during the joint Belarusian-Russian Zapad-2025 exercises last year, issues related to nuclear weapons and the Oreshnik missile system were reportedly practiced. Later, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Pavel Muraveika denied this information, but three weeks later acknowledged that the use of tactical nuclear weapons had indeed been practiced.

In January this year, Russia’s Foreign Ministry did not rule out holding future joint exercises with Belarus on practicing the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.