Russia has provided Belarus with an Iskander-M missile system that is capable of using both regular and nuclear missiles, Russia’s Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu says.
“Some jets of the Belarusian assault aviation have been enabled to execute strikes against the opponent’s facilities with nuclear missiles,” he stated.
Shoigu stressed that these were responsive measures connected with “NATO carrying out a set of measures to increase the combat readiness of the Joint Armed Forces, intensifying combat training and reconnaissance activities near the borders of Russia and Belarus”.
“Finland will shortly become a member of the Alliance. Obviously, this creates risks of a significant expansion of the conflict, but will not affect the outcome of the special military operation,” Shoigu added.
Nationwide air raid alert has been declared in Ukraine as a Russian MiG-31K took off from an airfield near Belarusian capital Minsk, UNIAN reports.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO General Secretary, has commented on the news about Russia’s deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, as per a newsperson for Novaya Gazeta Europe.
“We closely monitor what Russia does. And so far, we haven’t seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that require any changes in our posture. But we will remain vigilant. We monitor closely what they do, and we will take the necessary steps to always ensure that we have a credible deterrence for all allies,” Stoltenberg stated.
