Russia-Belarus Military Drills Will Practice Planning Use of Nukes, Oreshnik Missile, Says Minsk

The upcoming Zapad 2025 (West 2025) military exercise between Russia and Belarus will practice planning the use of nuclear weapons and the Oreshnik missile system.

This was announced by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin after presenting a report to the republic’s President Alexander Lukashenko, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

"This is an important element of what is predominantly strategic deterrence. We should be ready for everything, as requested by the head of state. We can see how things stand on our western and northern borders, and we cannot be complacent about the unfolding militarization and military activities. We demonstrate our openness and peace-loving nature, but the gun powder should always be kept dry," the minister said.

Members of the Belarusian military and their Russian counterparts will also practice planning the use of the Oreshnik missile system during the joint drills next month, he stressed.

Earlier, Lukashenko stated that "nobody wants to use nuclear weapons." However, he warned, his country will use "all weapons it has at its disposal" in response to any attack on the republic. The Oreshnik missile system which Russia promised to deploy in Belarus before the end of the year is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, too, he said. Also, he added, the deployment of nukes on Belarusian soil by Russia altered the tone of communication with the United States and other Western countries.

On March 25, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus at Minsk’s request, similar to what the United States had long done on the territory of its allies. On April 25, 2024, Lukashenko confirmed that several dozen nuclear warheads had been stationed in Belarus.