Belarus conducts drills with warplanes capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Belarus launched drills on Tuesday with warplanes capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons as Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin announced that President Alexander Lukashenko had ordered a surprise inspection of forces in charge of such weapons.

"Today, an order was received from the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus (President Alexander Lukashenko) to conduct a surprise inspection of the forces and carriers of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the Defense Ministry quoted Khrenin as saying.

The Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile system as well as a squadron of Su-25 fighter jets have been put into combat readiness to implement the training tasks, he said.

"The entire range of activities from planning, preparation and use of strikes with tactical nuclear weapons will be checked," he added.

In March last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Russia transferred a nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missile system to Belarus and re-equipped Belarusian aircraft so they can carry special ammunition.

In late April, Lukashenko said Russia deployed several dozen nuclear warheads to Belarus.