Nato Warns Russia of Devastating Response as 3-Day Belarus Nuclear Drills Begin
Updated
Updated · The Independent · May 21
Nato Warns Russia of Devastating Response as 3-Day Belarus Nuclear Drills Begin
10 articles · Updated · The Independent · May 21
Mark Rutte said Russia would face a “devastating” response if it used a nuclear weapon against Ukraine, as Nato closely monitored new Russian-Belarusian drills.
Russia said it had delivered nuclear munitions to field storage sites in Belarus and was training Iskander-M missile units to load them and move secretly before launch.
64,000 personnel and more than 7,800 pieces of equipment are involved, including over 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 surface ships and 13 submarines.
Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia could mount a fresh ground offensive toward Kyiv with deeper Belarusian involvement, though Ukraine said it had not yet seen direct border movements.
The three-day exercise underscores Belarus’s deepening military alignment with Moscow, which used Belarusian territory in the initial invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is staging its largest nuclear drills in years. Is this a genuine threat or a calculated bluff to divide NATO?
As Ukrainian drones cripple Russian oil output, is the West's sanctions strategy now being undermined from within?
With drones transforming modern warfare, how is the tech race between offense and defense reshaping Europe's security?
Russia’s Oreshnik Missile and Nuclear Drills in Belarus: Escalating Risks for NATO and European Security, 2024–2026
Overview
The Oreshnik missile marks a major step in Russia’s military evolution, reflecting both technological ambition and strategic messaging. Ordered by President Putin in 2023 and described as modern and state-of-the-art, the missile is central to Russia’s shifting nuclear posture. While Russia highlights its advanced features, U.S. experts see it as experimental and largely based on older technologies. The Oreshnik’s deployment, especially in Belarus, signals Russia’s readiness to escalate and deter Western involvement in Ukraine. This development, blending new and old technologies, underscores Russia’s intent to project power and reshape the security landscape in Europe.