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Russia Moves Nuclear Warheads Into Belarus Under Cover of Iskander-M Drills
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Russia says it has delivered nuclear warheads for Iskander-M missile systems to field storage points in Belarus as part of joint nuclear forces drills, Moscow’s Defense Ministry reported on May 21.
According to the Russian side, the so-called “special munitions” were moved into the operating area of a Belarusian missile brigade during exercises focused on nuclear weapons handling, preparation, and delivery.
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Russian officials said personnel from the Belarusian unit are carrying out training-combat tasks, including receiving nuclear warheads, fitting them to Iskander-M missiles, and covertly moving to designated areas to prepare for simulated launches.
Footage published by Russia’s Defense Ministry shows military trucks leaving covered storage bays and moving through forested terrain. The video then shows ballistic missiles being loaded onto Iskander-M self-propelled launchers.
Belarus announced on May 18 that its units had begun training for the combat use of nuclear weapons. The stated goal of the drills is to practice the delivery of nuclear munitions, preparation for their use, and coordination between Russian and Belarusian units.
The exercises focus heavily on concealment, long-distance movement, and calculations for the use of missile and aviation strike systems. Moscow and Minsk describe the drills as “planned” activities within the Russia-Belarus Union State framework.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and the joint drills, calling them an unprecedented challenge to the global security architecture.
“By turning Belarus into its nuclear foothold near NATO borders, the Kremlin is de facto legitimizing the spread of nuclear weapons in the world and creating a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes. Such actions must receive clear and firm condemnation from all states that respect the nuclear non-proliferation regime,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said.
The drills come amid growing concern that Russia is using Belarus as a forward platform for nuclear pressure against Ukraine and NATO, while keeping control over the warheads themselves.
Earlier, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus will “selectively mobilize” military units and prepare them for possible combat operations following a large-scale inspection of the country’s armed forces.
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