Belarus Conducts Nuclear Weapons Drills with Russian Cooperation

On 18 May 2024, Belarus announced that its armed forces began a drill to practice delivering and preparing nuclear munitions with Russia. The exercise will test stealth, long-distance movement and force-use calculations across the country, and the defence ministry says it is not aimed at any state and poses no regional security threat.

Nuclear Weapons Combat Use Drill Begins in BelarusReutersThe Straits Times

Belarus agreed in 2023, under President Alexander Lukashenko, to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles while Moscow retained exclusive launch authority. The drill follows the 2025 Zapad exercises, which reportedly rehearsed the Oreshnik missile system. President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia’s nuclear capability deters deeper Western involvement in Ukraine and announced plans to field the new Sarmat ICBM by year-end.

ReutersThe Straits TimesNuclear Weapons Combat Use Drill Begins in Belarus

Key actors are President Alexander Lukashenko, President Vladimir Putin, the Belarusian Defence Ministry and Chief of the General Staff, First Deputy Defence Minister Pavel Muraveika, who oversees missile and aviation units.

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The drills raise concerns among NATO members, given Belarus’s borders with three NATO states. Western analysts view the exercises as a signal that Russia may use its nuclear umbrella to deter further support for Ukraine, potentially lowering the threshold for nuclear escalation in Europe.

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The defence ministry said the drill aims to improve training, test airborne forces’ readiness and organise combat from unplanned areas, stressing it is not directed against any third country. Lukashenko’s 2023 decision to host missiles was framed as defensive. Putin reiterated Russia’s exclusive control over the weapons and warned any interference would meet a nuclear response. Russia’s foreign ministry has not ruled out future joint exercises on non-strategic nuclear use.

ReutersThe Straits TimesNuclear Weapons Combat Use Drill Begins in Belarus

Western officials interpret Putin’s nuclear warnings as attempts to deter deeper Western involvement in Ukraine, expressing concern that the drills lower the threshold for nuclear use in the region.

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• “During the training, in cooperation with the Russian side, it is planned to practise the delivery of nuclear munitions and their preparation for use,” — Belarusian Defence Ministry

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• “The emphasis will be on practicing stealth, movement over significant distances, and calculations for the use of forces and equipment,” — Belarusian Defence Ministry

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• “drill is a planned training event within the framework of the Union State, is not directed against third countries, and poses no threat to security in the region.” — Belarusian Defence Ministry

Nuclear Weapons Combat Use Drill Begins in Belarus

• “Belarus said the current exercise was not aimed against any other state and did not pose security threats in the region.” — Belarusian Defence Ministry

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Russia plans to deploy the new Sarmat ICBM by the end of 2024 and has signaled possible future joint drills on non-strategic nuclear weapons with Belarus.

Nuclear Weapons Combat Use Drill Begins in Belarus