NATO countries were put on red alert yesterday after Belarus announced it would conduct exercises with its Russian tactical nuclear weapons – a major boost for the Vladimir Putin.
The exercises follow a sharp warning from the Kremlin that tensions are emerging between them Russia and the West reached one “critical mass” and could 'explode'.
Last year Russia has moved some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, which is also on the border Ukraine and NATO members Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. Part of the weapons shipment included Iskander short-range ballistic missiles, which could carry nuclear warheads.
The deadly missile can travel up to 500 km (311 miles) and can carry a payload between 480 and 700 kg.
On Tuesday, Belarus conducted exercises with the Iskanders and a squadron of Su-25 fighter jets.
The Belarusian maneuvers began a day later Russia announced plans to hold similar exercises and sparked fears that Minsk could be preparing to play a bigger role in the war Ukraine.
Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said it was necessary to “control the entire range of activities, from planning, preparation and use of attacks with tactical nuclear weapons.”
Security Council Secretary Alexander Volfovich added that the exercises were synchronized Russiawhich maintains that its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus remain under Kremlin control.
The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would allow Russian aircraft and missiles to reach potential targets Ukraine easier and faster than if they were launched from within Russia.
It is also expanding Russia's ability to attack several NATO allies in Eastern and Central Europe.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko described the exercises as “exclusively defensive” and said the weapons were there to prevent any possible attack on the country.
He added that the exercises would include the delivery of tactical warheads from storage to military units, where they will be mounted on missiles and attached to fighter aircraft.
The missile units would then practice covert deployments at firing positions to simulate a response to an attack on Belarus, he said.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya denounced the use of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus on Tuesday after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
“Nuclear weapons make Belarus and Belarusians targets,” she said.
“Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus pose a direct threat to the lives and health of citizens across Europe.”