As tensions with the US over the Ukraine crisis rise, the Russian ambassador to Belarus announced on Sunday that Moscow will station tactical nuclear weapons close to Belarus’ border with NATO nations, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Ambassador Boris Gryzlov, speaking in remarks broadcast late Sunday by Belarusian state television, said the Russian nuclear weapons will be “moved up close to the Western border of our union state” but did not give any precise location. “It will expand our defence capability, and it will be done regardless of all the noise in Europe and the United States,” he said in a reference to Western criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision.
Earlier, Putin announced plans to place tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Russia’s neighbour and friend, according to ABC News.
Putin has stated that the construction of tactical nuclear weapons storage facilities in Belarus will be completed by July 1, and that Moscow has assisted in modernising Belarusian jets to make them capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
The two neighbours have reached an accord that calls for tight economic, political, and military cooperation. Russia utilised Belarusian territory as a staging area for its invasion of Ukraine, and it has kept a number of troops and weaponry there.
Belarus borders NATO members Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland by 1,250 kilometres.
Tactical nuclear weapons, which are designed to kill enemy troops and weaponry on the battlefield, have a much shorter range and a much lower yield than nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles capable of obliterating entire cities.
Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus would bring them closer to possible targets in Ukraine and NATO nations in Eastern and Central Europe.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko also stated on Friday that some of Russia’s strategic nuclear weapons, as well as a portion of Russia’s tactical nuclear arsenal, may be stationed in Belarus.
Earlier in late March, Belarus blamed “unprecedented pressure” from the United States, Great Britain and their NATO allies for the decision to host Russian tactical weapons in its territory, according to the statement released by Belarus’ Foreign Ministry in response to TASS agency’s question.
According to the statement, Belarus said, “Over the past two and a half years, the Republic of Belarus has been subjected to unprecedented political, economic and informational pressure from the United States, Great Britain and their NATO allies, as well as the member states of the European Union.”
