Russian and Belarusian forces began large-scale strategic exercises involving nuclear-capable systems, ballistic missile launches and coordinated military operations as Moscow intensifies deterrence messaging toward NATO and Ukraine.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Russia and Belarus began extensive joint military exercises Tuesday involving nuclear-capable forces, strategic missile systems and coordinated air, naval and ground operations as Moscow rehearses military responses to what it described as potential “aggression threats.”
According to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, the drills involve approximately 64,000 personnel, 7,800 weapons systems, 200 missile launchers, more than 140 aircraft, 73 naval vessels and 13 submarines, including eight submarines tied to Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent forces.
The exercises are scheduled to continue over two days and include ballistic missile and cruise missile test launches conducted across multiple regions of Russia.
TASS reported that the operation combines units from Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, long-range aviation forces and multiple military districts in an effort to improve command coordination, logistical readiness and nuclear deterrence capabilities.
“The drills are set to practice readying some of nuclear forces’ units and formations for accomplishing assigned objectives and rendering them comprehensive logistical support, and also carrying out test-launches of ballistic and cruise missiles at practice range,” the agency stated.
Russian officials said the exercises are designed to strengthen readiness for deterrence operations, improve coordination between military branches and test the ability of strategic forces to respond rapidly during a crisis.
The drills also include joint operations with Belarus involving preparation and deployment procedures connected to Russian nuclear weapons stationed inside Belarusian territory.
Belarus’ Defense Ministry confirmed Monday that exercises involving missile troops and air force units connected to “combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons logistical support” had already begun.
Belarusian officials described the operation as a planned military exercise not directed against any specific country and said it posed no threat to regional security.
Ukraine sharply criticized both the exercises and Russia’s continued deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, describing the arrangement as a major threat to international security structures and nuclear non-proliferation agreements.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stated that the joint operations violated core principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
“The joint strike exercises directly violate the fundamental Articles 1 and 2 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which strictly prohibit nuclear-weapon states from transferring control of technologies of mass destruction, and non-nuclear signatories from accepting them,” the ministry said in an online statement.
Kyiv also accused Moscow of creating a dangerous global precedent by positioning nuclear weapons in Belarus near NATO territory.
“By turning Belarus into its nuclear bridgehead near NATO borders, the Kremlin is de facto legitimizing the spread of nuclear weapons in the world and setting a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes,” the statement added.
Belarus remained free of nuclear weapons for roughly 27 years following the collapse of the Soviet Union and had been a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty before Russia began deploying tactical nuclear systems there in June 2023.
Military analysts believe the stockpile stationed in Belarus includes warheads for Iskander-M missile systems as well as aerial nuclear bombs designed for Su-25 and Su-30 aircraft.
The weapons are believed capable of delivering nuclear yields ranging from approximately 5 to 50 kilotons over distances reaching roughly 310 miles.
Additional smaller free-fall nuclear bombs for attack aircraft are also believed to be part of the deployment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia maintains full operational control over the nuclear arsenal stationed in Belarus and has argued the deployment remains compliant with international treaty obligations because Belarus does not directly control the weapons.
Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Putin has repeatedly warned that Moscow could use nuclear weapons if Russian sovereignty or territorial integrity faces what the Kremlin considers an existential threat.
Russia suspended participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in February 2023, halting inspections and nuclear data-sharing arrangements with the United States while continuing to observe certain warhead limitations.
Nine months later, Moscow formally withdrew from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
In September 2024, Putin further escalated nuclear rhetoric by warning the United States and NATO against authorizing deeper Ukrainian missile strikes into Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons.
At the time, he proposed revisions to Russia’s nuclear doctrine that would classify attacks conducted by non-nuclear states receiving support from nuclear powers as “joint attacks,” potentially lowering the threshold for a Russian nuclear response.
The latest exercises come amid continuing battlefield pressure inside Ukraine, expanding drone warfare deep inside Russian territory and growing military coordination between NATO countries supporting Kyiv.
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