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Russian and Belarusian Forces Begin Military Drills Involving Nuclear Scenario Training
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Military exercises involving Russian forces have begun in Belarus, during which units will reportedly train scenarios involving the use of nuclear weapons, according to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense on May 18.
The ministry stated that the drills aim to improve the combat readiness of Belarusian troops, test weapons and equipment, and practice procedures related to the operational deployment of nuclear-capable systems.
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According to the announcement, missile troops and aviation units are participating in the exercises alongside the Russian military. The drills are expected to include training on the delivery of nuclear warheads and procedures for their simulated use.
“The main feature of these exercises will be testing readiness to carry out combat deployment tasks from unprepared areas across the entire territory of the Republic of Belarus,” the Ministry of Defense said.
They also stated that troops will be trained to carry out long-range movements, practice concealment techniques, and perform operational calculations for the deployment of weapons.
The ministry said the drills are presented as a routine training activity and, according to officials, are “not aimed at third countries and do not pose a threat to regional security.”
The announcement of intensified military activity in Belarus comes as Ukraine’s diplomatic leadership underscores parallel efforts to hold Russia and its allies legally accountable for the war.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the agreement on establishing a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine as a “point of no return,” calling it a decisive step in the development of international justice mechanisms.
Speaking at a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Chișinău, Sybiha said the tribunal would help restore justice following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Putin always wanted to enter history, and this Tribunal will help him achieve that. He will go down in history as a criminal. And not only him. Putin, Shoigu, Gerasimov, Bortnikov, Zolotov, Medvedev, Patrushev, Lukashenko and others today received their tickets to The Hague,” he added.
Additionally, Russia is seeking to involve Belarus more directly in its war effort, with potential scenarios including operations against northern Ukraine or even a NATO member state.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian officials have recently held further discussions with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko aimed at encouraging Minsk to take a more active role in planned Russian military operations.
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