Russia and Belarus Begin Second Stage of Tactical Nuclear Weapons Drills

Russia and Belarus have started the second phase of tactical nuclear weapons exercises after what Russia said were threats from Western countries.

Previously, at the beginning of May, Russia announced military drills involving the simulated use of tactical nuclear weapons. This comes after the Russian Defense Ministry claimed Western officials made “provocative threats.”

The second phase of the tactical nuclear weapons drills was announced by the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation on June 11.

“The situation on the European continent is quite tense, which is provoked every day by new decisions and actions of European capitals hostile to Russia, and above all by Washington,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Since initiating a full-scale invasion by deploying thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin has consistently threatened to use nuclear weapons to safeguard Russia if needed.

During Putin’s visit to Belarus on May 23, Vladimir Putin intended to discuss the potential involvement of the Belarusian military in Russia’s non-strategic nuclear drills.