Combat training

Russia and Belarus: nuclear weapons exercise continues

(Bild: AP/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service)

Russia and Belarus have begun the second phase of their tactical nuclear weapons exercise. The training in Russia is intended to ensure that the armed forces and equipment are ready to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday.

"During the exercises, units of the Russian and Belarusian armed forces will be jointly trained for the combat use of tactical nuclear weapons," it said. Belarus' participation in the joint nuclear exercise with Russia is routine and is not aimed at creating tensions in the region, added Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin in Minsk.

Putin reacts to "threats"
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the nuclear weapons exercise last month in response to threats from France, the UK and the USA in connection with the war in Ukraine. Western allies had also recently allowed Ukraine to use weapons supplied by them against military targets in Russia.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced manoeuvres in the Atlantic. The nuclear-powered submarine Kazan and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov practiced the use of high-precision weapons. The exercises included hitting targets from a distance of more than 600 kilometers, the statement said on Tuesday.

Largest nuclear arsenal in the world
According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world with 5580 nuclear warheads. The anti-nuclear weapons campaign ICAN even estimates that Russia has 6255 warheads. This means that Russia could destroy the entire world several times over. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia agreed with other successor states to take over the Soviet nuclear arsenal on its own. Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan handed over the weapons stationed in their countries by 1996.