Russia and Belarus stage joint nuclear weapons drills
Key takeaways
- Moscow and Minsk held joint military drills to practice using Russian nuclear weapons, the Belarus defence ministry said on Monday.
- Issued on: 18/05/2026 - 18:18Modified: 18/05/2026 - 18:19
- Russia deployed Oreshnik, its latest hypersonic, nuclear-capable missile, to Belarus last year, upping the stakes in its rivalry with the NATO military alliance.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Moscow and Minsk held joint military drills to practice using Russian nuclear weapons, the Belarus defence ministry said on Monday. Russia deployed nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles to its western neighbour last year, and in 2024 released revised doctrine placing Belarus under its nuclear umbrella.
Issued on: 18/05/2026 - 18:18Modified: 18/05/2026 - 18:19
By: FRANCE 24 File photo: In this image from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Monday, December 29, 2025, Russia's Oreshnik missile system is seen during a training in an undisclosed location in Belarus. © Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP Russia and Belarus staged joint nuclear weapons drills on Monday, authorities said. Russia deployed Oreshnik, its latest hypersonic, nuclear-capable missile, to Belarus last year, upping the stakes in its rivalry with the NATO military alliance.