Moscow Announces Start of Training Belarusian Soldiers to Use Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Belarusian soldiers have begun training in Russia on the use of "tactical" nuclear weapons, according to Moscow and Minsk, after the Kremlin had recently announced that it intended to send this type of weapon to Belarus.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said, "The Iskander-M tactical missile system has been delivered to the Belarusian army, and it allows the use of regular missiles and nuclear missiles as well."

"Since April 3, Belarusian crews have been trained to use them in a Russian training center," he added during a meeting.

Tactical nuclear weapons can cause massive damage, but their range of destruction is more limited than "strategic" nuclear weapons.

The Belarusian Ministry of Defense stated, in a statement, that "the staff of these units will study in detail issues related to the content and use of tactical nuclear munitions."

On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would deploy "tactical" nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, an ally at the gates of the European Union, which alarmed Kyiv and the West.