Russia-Belarus nuclear drills put West on notice — Belarus’ Security Council

Lead

Russian and Belarusian officials have reaffirmed their readiness to use all means, including nuclear weapons, to defend the Union State, amid what they describe as a demonstrative and provocative buildup of NATO forces near their borders. Statements from several senior figures, carried by TASS, emphasized that the recent joint nuclear exercises were designed to show the capability and resolve of both countries to protect their security and sovereignty.

Coverage Comparison

All reports on this story come from TASS, the Russian state news agency, reflecting the official positions of Russian and Belarusian authorities. The coverage spans multiple events: remarks by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, statements by Belarusian Security Council State Secretary Alexander Volfovich at a CSTO meeting, comments by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, and appearances by Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko. While the tone varies—from diplomatic to warning—the underlying message is consistent: Moscow and Minsk view NATO's military activities near their borders as a threat that justifies a nuclear deterrent posture.

Key Claims

The central claim, repeated across several statements, is that Russia and Belarus are ready to use all means, including nuclear weapons, to defend the Union State. Galuzin said in an interview that the modalities of interaction between the armed forces and security agencies are constantly being improved. “We are constantly ready to use all means, including nuclear ones, to ensure the security of the Union State,” he said, according to TASS.

Volfovich, speaking after the joint drills in May, said the exercise demonstrated that Belarus has nuclear weapons and the Oreshnik missile system on its territory, and that the countries showed their ability to use these weapons and their determination to defend the Union State. He stressed that the exercise was steered by the presidents of both countries. “We don’t threaten anyone,” he said, echoing statements by Putin and Lukashenko, but added that if aggression occurs, the weapons will be used to inflict “unacceptable losses” on the aggressor.

Shoigu, at a meeting with Volfovich, said the deployment of Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons and Oreshnik missiles in Belarus has significantly strengthened the deterrent effect against the West. He noted that this effect should be regularly reinforced, recalling that on May 19–21 the two countries’ armed forces conducted practical training for the use of such systems.

The reports also highlight the context of what officials describe as Western military buildup. Volfovich pointed to Poland’s plans to increase its armed forces to 300,000 soldiers, saying this is a massive undertaking that far exceeds the size of Belarus’s military. He argued that such weapons are necessary for defense: “How can we defend our country? Only with the use of such weapons.”

Another theme is the offer of dialogue. Volfovich, at an international meeting in Moscow in May, said that Europe is openly preparing for war, with Western strategic planning documents reportedly suggesting a possible conflict by 2030. He said the foundations of the liberal world order have been irreversibly undermined, but stressed that “the door to dialogue with Minsk is always open.” He also noted that OSCE members had been invited to observe the West-2025 exercises but the invitation was rejected.

Matviyenko, speaking at a meeting with Belarusian parliament speaker Natalya Kochanova, said the joint nuclear exercises were the first time the armies of Russia and Belarus conducted such drills. “We showed the world that we are peaceful people, we always support peaceful, diplomatic negotiations, but so that no one has any illusions,” she said, adding that the countries are ready to defend their sovereignty and security.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Alexey Shevtsov, speaking at SPIEF, said the deployment of the Oreshnik system and the joint exercises should be a harbinger for Europeans, especially the “Baltic tigers.” He said these moves will “tame” what he called indiscriminate rhetoric from Baltic states and other European actors. He also mentioned the Union State’s military doctrine and information security concept, approved in December 2024, as part of its collective security framework.

In a separate but related development, Russian Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Roman Chekushov said at SPIEF that Russia and Belarus plan to prepare a package of measures by the end of the year to support goods of the Union State, focusing on high-tech sectors such as microelectronics and machine-tool manufacturing. These economic measures are part of deeper integration within the Union State, though they are distinct from the security-related statements.