The president of Belarus said Monday that Russia has completed its shipments of tactical nuclear weapons to his country, an initiative that raised strong concerns in neighboring Poland and elsewhere in the region.
Quick Read
- Completion of Shipments: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that Russia has completed the delivery of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. This was stated during a meeting in St. Petersburg of a Moscow-led economic bloc.
- Lack of Specifics: Lukashenko did not provide details on the number of weapons delivered or their deployment locations.
- Characteristics of Weapons: Tactical nuclear weapons, characterized by their short range and low yield, are designed for battlefield use. These differ significantly from the more powerful warheads on long-range missiles.
- Russian Control: Russia will maintain control over the nuclear weapons it has sent to Belarus.
- Lukashenko’s Rationale: The Belarusian President has stated that hosting these weapons is a deterrent against aggression from Poland, a NATO member country supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
- Poland’s Involvement: Poland has been providing military, humanitarian, and political support to Ukraine, and is part of the international sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus.
- Role of Belarus in Ukraine Invasion: Russian troops, based in Belarus, launched an invasion of Ukraine from the north in the early stages of the war. However, Belarusian forces have not been reported to have actively participated in the conflict.
The Associated Press has the story:
Belarus leader says Russian Nuclear weapons shipments are completed
Newslooks- TALLINN, Estonia (AP)
The president of Belarus said Monday that Russia has completed its shipments of tactical nuclear weapons to his country, an initiative that raised strong concerns in neighboring Poland and elsewhere in the region.
President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting of a Moscow-led economic bloc in St. Petersburg that the shipments were completed in October, but he did not give details of how many weapons were sent or where they have been deployed.
Tactical nuclear weapons, which are intended for use on the battlefield, have a short range and a low yield compared with much more powerful nuclear warheads fitted to long-range missiles. Russia said it would maintain control over those it sends to Belarus.
Lukashenko has said that hosting Russian nuclear weapons in his country is meant to deter aggression by Poland, a NATO member. Poland is offering neighbor Ukraine military, humanitarian and political backing in its struggle against Russia’s invasion and is taking part in international sanctions on Russia and Belarus.
Russian troops based in Belarus invaded Ukraine from the north in the war’s opening days, but Belarusian forces are not known to have participated.
