Belarusian missile forces took part in nuclear training exercise — Defense Ministry

Lead

Belarus and Russia have conducted a series of joint military exercises involving nuclear forces, according to multiple official statements and reports. The drills, which took place over several days in May, drew sharp criticism from Ukraine, while Belarusian and Russian officials stressed that the exercises were planned, not aimed at any third country, and posed no threat to regional security.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the exercise varied across outlets, with some focusing on Ukraine's strong reaction and others highlighting the official reassurances from Minsk and Moscow.

Al Jazeera reported on the start of the training, noting that the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced the exercise as a planned event not directed at any specific third party. The outlet also quoted a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry statement that accused the Kremlin of "de facto legitimising the proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide" by turning Belarus into a "nuclear staging ground near NATO borders."

Deutsche Welle also emphasized Ukraine's reaction, describing "wide condemnation" from Kyiv. The outlet noted that the drills drew condemnation from Ukraine, which urged Western allies to tighten sanctions on Russia and Belarus. DW also provided context on the 2023 agreement under which Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles.

In contrast, France 24 — English and South China Morning Post focused on the official statements from the Belarusian Defense Ministry, reporting the exercise was not directed against any other country and posed no threat to regional security. Both outlets also noted that the drills involved aviation and missile forces.

The Hindu similarly reported the exercise with a neutral tone, quoting the Defense Ministry's statement that the aim was to improve personnel training and test readiness, while stressing it was not directed against any other state.

TASS — English, the Russian state news agency, provided extensive coverage, including details on the missile unit's participation and the involvement of the two presidents. One TASS report quoted Putin praising Belarusian military personnel for their "great skill" in handling nuclear weapons, and another detailed the live-fire tests of ballistic and cruise missiles announced by Putin.

Key Claims

• Belarusian and Russian forces conducted joint nuclear drills, as reported by multiple outlets. The Belarusian Defense Ministry announced the exercise, which was described as a planned training event within the Union State.
• The drills involved the use of nuclear forces and were not directed against any third country, according to official statements from both the Belarusian and Russian Defense Ministries.
• Ukraine condemned the drills as a threat to regional security. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing the Kremlin of legitimizing nuclear proliferation.
• Russia and Belarus conducted live-fire tests of ballistic and cruise missiles during the drills, as announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• The drills involved the delivery of nuclear munitions and their preparation for use, according to the Belarusian Defense Ministry.
• The exercise was aimed at practicing coordination and interaction between military officials in the event of nuclear weapons use, as stated by Putin.
• Belarus announced the start of training exercises involving Russian nuclear weapons, with the aim of improving personnel training and testing readiness.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko participated in the drills via video link, as reported by multiple outlets, including TASS and Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

Ukrainian Government

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemned the drills, saying that turning Belarus into a "nuclear staging ground near NATO borders" legitimizes nuclear proliferation and sets a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes. Kyiv urged Western allies to tighten sanctions against Moscow and Minsk.

Belarusian and Russian Officials

Belarusian and Russian officials, including Presidents Lukashenko and Putin, emphasized that the exercise was a planned training event, not directed against any third country, and posed no threat to regional security. Putin stressed that nuclear weapons use remains an "extreme and exceptional measure" and praised Belarusian military personnel for their skill.