Russia warns Belarus now armed with nuclear-armed aircraft

Belarus received the ability to strike with weapons of destruction in nuclear equipment, Russia announced. Speaking to his team in a conference call, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said: “Some of the Belarusian ground attack aircraft have gained the ability to strike at enemy targets with nuclear-armed weapons.”

The warning comes after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Russian strategic nuclear weapons might be deployed in his country, along with part of Moscow’s tactical nuclear arsenal.

Putin had said he planned to place tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.

Those weapons are comparatively short-range and low-yield.

Strategic nuclear weapons, such as missile-borne warheads, would be a greater threat.

Lukashenko, while talking up the possibility of nuclear weapons, has also called for a cease-fire in Ukraine.

He said a truce must have no preconditions and all movement of troops and weapons must be halted.

Russia, however, has rejected a cease in fighting, claiming that Ukraine has refused to enter talks under pressure from its Western allies.

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The two neighbours have an agreement envisioning close economic, political and military ties. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there.

Belarus shares a 1,250-kilometre (778-mile) border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus would put them closer to potential targets in Ukraine and NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe.

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