Łukašenka orders drill involving nuclear delivery systems
May 7, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has ordered the Armed Forces to hold a drill involving nuclear delivery systems, Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin said today.
The press office of the Ministry of Defense quoted him as saying that an Iskander battalion and a Su-25 squadron were being prepared to perform their assigned tasks.
“The exercise will be conducted strictly on schedule prepared by the commander-in-chief. The entire range of activities from planning, preparation and performance of strikes with tactical nuclear weapons will be tested,” the minister said.
Chief of Staff Viktar Hulevič said that “part of the aviation forces and assets was redeployed to an alternate airfield” during the drill. When technical personnel is redeployed, the military will begin to “practice preparations for the use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons,” he said.
Security Council head Alaksandr Valfovič said on Belarus 1 that the exercise was “planned against the backdrop of events” in Russia, in apparent reference to similar training in the neighboring country. He attributed the drill to the military-political situation around Belarus.
“The practical confirmation of our servicemen’s skills in using this kind of weapons should be the main result of the drill. These events are purely defensive and do not project threats to any states,” Valfovič said.
Yesterday, the Russian General Staff announced the start of preparations for a tactical nuclear weapons exercise to improve “the nonstrategic nuclear forces’ readiness for combat missions.”
The Russian General Staff clarified that the exercise will be held by the order of Vladimir Putin. They are aimed at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment and ensuring Russia’s territorial integrity and independence “in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said recent statements by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron constituted a “completely new round of escalation of tension.”
Last week, Macron refused to rule out potentially deploying French troops, should Kyiv request them, while Cameron said that Ukraine had the right to use British weapons for strikes within Russia.
- EconomyBiełstat: Belarusian companies’ CapEx up 4.4 percent in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
Belarusian tank crews to be drilled in Russia for one month
- PoliticsOpposition politician says Łukašenka responsible for forced transfers of 3,500 Ukrainian kidsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUS diplomat condemns Belarus 1 broadcast featuring jailed US lawyerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIllegal Belarus-EU crossings up 40 percent in SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: at least 17 arrested during raids in Viciebsk, Brest regionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Belarus: jailed US lawyer asks for pardon, reaches out to Harris and Trump
- PoliticsUN rights council to discuss Belarus on September 23The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Pinsk court to try journalist for protesting
- Politics
Belarusian bishop asks Pope Francis about regional peace
- SocietyInternational fund raises nearly €1.3 million for Belarus’ political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoE platform calls on Georgia to reconsider entry ban for Belarusian journalistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyArrests in Hłybokaje, StolinThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolitical prisoner Załatar released – ViasnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician grateful to EP for resolution on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMEPs urge EU to step up sanctions on MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Łukašenka meets with Donetsk separatist leader
- PoliticsŁukašenka says Minsk has “own standards” for presidential electionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
Rubel slides against US dollar, yuan at BCSE
- Politics
Cichanoŭskaja nominates new social security chief
- Politics
Opposition leader: white-red-white flag to fly over Belarus again
- PoliticsReprisals: teachers in focus over links to blacklisted education projectThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMEPs discuss resolution on Belarus' political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyLatvian national Asars arrested for drug smuggling – customs committeeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights defenders label 7 as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNames of all 37 recently pardoned prisoners knownThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁatuška receives solidarity prize in WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Yandex Music takes down Tor Band songs
- PoliticsLatvia contacts Belarusian authorities regarding missing citizenThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNames of 27 political prisoners pardoned on September 16The material is available only to POZIRK+