Russia stages nuclear drills and sends munitions to Belarus amid Nato tensions

MOSCOW: Russia on Thursday said it had delivered nuclear munitions to field storage sites in Belarus and put parts of its strategic nuclear arsenal on display as strains with European members of Nato intensified over the war in Ukraine and drone activity around the Baltic region.

According to Russia, the exercises are among its largest nuclear-related drills in recent years, involving 64,000 personnel. The stated purpose of the manoeuvres is to train forces in the preparation and use of nuclear forces in the event of aggression.

The three-day exercises began on Tuesday across Russia and Belarus. They include the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific fleets, long-range aviation, and units from the Leningrad and Central military districts.

As part of the drills, Russia showcased a Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft, a MiG-31 carrying a Kinzhal hypersonic missile, and RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles.

President Vladimir Putin said the use of nuclear weapons would be a last resort, while also underlining the need to preserve the nuclear triad as a safeguard for sovereignty and strategic deterrence.

a "last resort"

Russia also said a missile unit in Belarus was being trained to receive special munitions for the mobile Iskander-M tactical missile system, including the loading of munitions onto launch vehicles.

Russian nuclear exercises generally use dummy warheads. One video released by the defence ministry showed a military truck covered by a tarp and moving with limited security, while other footage showed nuclear submarines, aircraft and warships taking part in the drills.

Baltic dispute

The exercises are taking place as Moscow says it is engaged in an existential confrontation with the West over Ukraine. Since the start of the war, Putin has repeatedly pointed to Russia’s nuclear capabilities as a warning against deeper Western support for Kyiv. Ukraine and some Western leaders have rejected those signals as irresponsible sabre rattling.

Moscow has accused Baltic states of allowing Ukraine to use their territory to launch flights targeting northern Russia, an allegation denied by Nato. The Baltic countries, which strongly support Ukraine, say Russia is instead diverting Ukrainian drones into their airspace away from intended targets inside Russia.

The Kremlin on Wednesday also criticised comments by Lithuania’s top diplomat, saying they were verging on insanity after Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said Nato needed to demonstrate that it could penetrate Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad lies on the Baltic coast between Lithuania and Poland, both Nato members. The territory has a population of about one million and is heavily militarised. It also serves as the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic Fleet.