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Belarus Possesses Nuclear Delivery Systems, but No Warheads Yet, Intel Says

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Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko
Dariia Mykhailenko
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Belarus Possesses Nuclear Delivery Systems, but No Warheads Yet, Intel Says
Belarus' armed forces take part in joint military drills by the Collective Rapid Response Forces, at the Edelweiss training area in Balykchi, on September 11, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

Belarus does not currently possess nuclear weapons, only their delivery systems, according to Chief of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko.

In an interview with Ukrinform on May 26, Ivashchenko stated that while platforms such as aircraft and Iskander missile systems are present, there are no nuclear warheads on Belarusian territory.

“There are delivery systems. That’s true. There are aircraft, there are Iskander tactical missile systems. But there are no nuclear weapons in Belarus. That is a fact,” he said.

He noted that although Belarus is constructing storage facilities and making preparations, there is no evidence that nuclear warheads have been deployed.

“They are preparing storage facilities, getting ready, building infrastructure. Lukashenko claims they will have a site called ‘Oreshnik’ operational by the end of the year. But that sounds more like wishful thinking. As of now, there is nothing of the sort, and it is unlikely to appear,” Chief of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service added.

Ivashchenko also assessed that the Belarusian military is not capable of large-scale combat operations. He said that approximately 2,000 Belarusian troops are currently stationed near Ukraine’s border, primarily to divert attention rather than pose a significant offensive threat.

“All they have near our border is about two thousand troops, simply to divert our attention. The combat force is small, and even before the war they were incapable of carrying out offensive operations. Their personnel are not mentally prepared for that either,” he concluded.

Earlier, France is set to formally order the PA-NG, a next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that will be the largest warship ever built in Europe.

The order is expected by late 2025, with construction scheduled to begin in the early 2030s and full operational deployment planned for 2038.

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