Belarus: Russian nuclear weapons shipments completed Belarus's president said Russia had completed shipments of tactical nuclear weapons to his country, an initiative that raised strong concerns in neighboring Poland and elsewhere in the region.
President Alexander Lukashenko explained during a meeting of the Moscow-led economic bloc in St. Petersburg on Monday that the shipments were completed last October, but he did not give details about the number of weapons sent or where they were deployed.
It is noteworthy that tactical nuclear weapons, intended for use on the battlefield, have a short range and low yield compared to more powerful nuclear warheads equipped with long-range missiles. Russia said it will retain control over the weapons it sends to Belarus.
Lukashenko had said that hosting Russian nuclear weapons in his country “aims to deter aggression from Poland,” a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Poland provides military, humanitarian and political support to its neighbor Ukraine in its struggle against Russia, and participates in the international sanctions imposed on Moscow and Minsk.
Russian forces stationed in Belarus attacked Ukraine from the north in the first days of the war, but it is not known whether Belarusian forces participated in the war.
Belarus: Russian nuclear weapons deliveries completed
The President of Belarus announced that Russia has completed shipments of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, a move that has caused great concern in neighboring Poland and elsewhere in the region.
During a meeting of the Moscow-led economic bloc in St. Petersburg on Monday, President Alexander Lukashenko explained that these shipments took place last October, without giving details about the number of weapons sent or the location of their deployment.
Tactical nuclear weapons, designed for battlefield use, have a short range and low efficiency compared to more powerful nuclear warheads equipped with long-range missiles. Russia has confirmed that it will retain control over the weapons it sends to Belarus.
Lukashenko had indicated that hosting Russian nuclear weapons in his country aims to deter the hostile threat posed by Poland, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Poland provides military, humanitarian and political support to neighboring Ukraine in its struggle against Russia, and participates in international sanctions imposed on Moscow and Minsk.
In the early days of the war, Russian forces attacked the Belarusian region to launch attacks into Ukraine from the north, but it is not known specifically whether Belarusian forces participated in the conflict.