Russian defense minister in Minsk reiterates nuclear threats

October 23, Pozirk. Russia has adapted its state policy to “new realities” to allow for the use of nuclear weapons should Belarus be attacked, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has told a joint board meeting of the two defense ministries in Minsk.

Earlier this month, several high-ranking Russian officials and diplomats made similar statements, playing up threats ahead of January’s presidential vote in Belarus.

In response, Belousov’s Belarusian counterpart Viktar Chrenin lauded Belarusian-Russian cooperation, including the expansion of the joint regional group of forces set up two years ago as well as weapons and military equipment exports, the defense ministry’s press office reported.

He also thanked Russia for sharing combat experience and training hundreds of Belarusian servicemen.

Chrenin said that the large-scale Belarusian-Russian exercise Zapad scheduled for next year will test the combat readiness of the regional group of forces and their ability to work together.

In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk denied the Belarusian army’s involvement in combat operations but allowed Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions.

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