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.
Also read: Łukašenka claims he was involved in drafting Russia’s nuclear doctrine
- EconomyEDB links Belarus’ reserves rise to foreign currency supply growthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-EU crossings soaring since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsChina's parliamentary delegation to visit Belarus this weekThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyThree die in car crashes involving unlicenced driversThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyThunderstorm aftermath: 176 toppled trees, properties damagedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyJob openings exceed 210,000 in early JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyŁukašenka unveils Minsk stadium, thanks ChinaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsBelarusian envoy discusses labor migration with Vietnam’s officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsWarsaw extends border area entry ban by 90 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsOpposition politicians meet diplomats from Australia, BelgiumThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Minsk keeps cracking down on freedom of expressionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ sanctioned airline adds A330-200 to its fleetThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SportScottish Greens leader wants Belarus banned from World Cup qualifiersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja to take part in EU-Belarus group meeting in BrusselsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights defenders label 14 as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ vehicle sales fall in May after a change in auto loan termsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFourty-five people have been added to "extremist list"The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka bans banks from transferring cash to foreign gambling entitiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+