Overview
- Belarus said its forces began Monday joint drills with Russian units to practice delivering and readying tactical nuclear munitions using missile and air units from unprepared sites.
- Minsk framed the training as pre-planned and not directed at other states, saying troops will focus on concealment and long-distance moves.
- Ukraine condemned the drills as a breach of the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty’s Articles I and II and urged tougher sanctions, more air defenses, and a stronger NATO presence on the eastern flank.
- Some reports noted no immediate confirmation from Russia’s Defense Ministry, though Moscow has deployed tactical nuclear weapons and the Oreshnik nuclear‑capable missile system in Belarus and says it controls any use.
- The announcement followed Sunday’s largest Ukrainian drone strike on Moscow, which Ukrainian officials and analysts say Russia is leveraging to force Kyiv to shift troops north ahead of a possible summer offensive.