Belarus, Russia Launch Joint Nuclear Drills as Kyiv Warns of New Northern Attack
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 18
Belarus, Russia Launch Joint Nuclear Drills as Kyiv Warns of New Northern Attack
7 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 18
Belarusian military units began joint nuclear-weapons combat training with Russia, with drills designed to test readiness and operate from unprepared sites across the country.
Minsk said the exercise was planned and not aimed at any third party, while the Kremlin rejected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's claim that Moscow may be preparing another offensive from Belarus.
Ukraine called Belarus a nuclear staging ground near NATO borders and urged Western allies to tighten sanctions on both Moscow and Minsk.
The drills follow one of Ukraine's largest drone barrages toward Moscow, which Russian officials said killed at least five people, and revive fears tied to Russia's February 24, 2022 invasion route through Belarus.
Are Belarus's nuclear drills a defensive posture or the final step into war?
Is Lukashenko using nuclear threats to escape an international war crimes tribunal?
Belarus’s Integration into Russia’s Nuclear Strategy: Implications of the May 2026 Joint Nuclear Drills for Eastern European Security
Overview
On May 18, 2026, Russia and Belarus began joint military exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons, marking a major step in their military cooperation. These drills, held under the Union State alliance, come at a time of rising global tensions and after the collapse of the New START treaty, which removed limits on U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals. This has created a less regulated nuclear environment. The timing and nature of the exercises highlight Belarus’s deeper integration into Russia’s military strategy, especially in the nuclear domain, and signal a shift in the regional security landscape amid weakened arms control agreements.