Russia deploys nuclear weapons in Belarus near NATO borders, WSJ reports
The nuclear weapons of Russia in Belarus are located near the borders of NATO (Photo: GettyImages)
Russia is deploying nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus. Through the intermediation of the Lukashenko regime, the Kremlin is carrying out these maneuvers on the borders with NATO member countries, reports The Wall Street Journal.
According to the material, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, stated at the end of last month that Russia had completed the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the country.
During the announcement, American officials did not provide complete information regarding the implementation of this plan. It was suggested that the Belarusian dictator might have been bluffing.
However, in July of last year, the Defense Intelligence Agency of the United States stated that there was "no reason to doubt" Putin's statements regarding the dispatch of nuclear weapons to Belarus.
Open-source intelligence
"The Federation of American Scientists analyzed open-source intelligence, including video footage from the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, and concluded that 'Lida Air Base, 40 kilometers from the Lithuanian border and the only wing of the Belarusian Air Force equipped with Su-25s, is the most likely candidate for Belarus' new 'nuclear exchange' mission with Russia," WSJ writes.
The media notes that Lukashenko made these statements at a time when Russia began a more aggressive rhetoric toward the West. Recently, Putin said that 'there will be problems' with Finland due to its NATO aspirations.
In November, Russia's Deputy Security Council Chairman Medvedev referred to Poland as an "enemy" risking its independence.
"Putin's provocative nuclear move in Belarus is a reminder of what is at stake in Ukraine," WSJ summarized.
Refutation from Belarusian monitoring group
Contrary to The Wall Street Journal's claims, the monitoring group Belarusian Hajun emphasizes that despite the array of sources, the article did not provide specific evidence of the presence of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus
At the end of May, defense ministers of Russia and Belarus signed an agreement on the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Moscow transferred Iskander-M missile systems to Minsk capable of launching missiles with nuclear warheads.
It's worth noting that during the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian aircraft repeatedly attacked Ukrainian border regions, flying from Belarusian territory.
The Russian army closely collaborates with the dictatorial regime of Lukashenko, actively conducting military propaganda on its territory, involving its terrorist units in joint training sessions lasting over 87 weeks.
In November, it was also reported that Russia continued to relocate components of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in mid-September. According to railway workers, occupiers transferred two trains, consisting of over 26 wagons.
