Russia, which has recently stepped up its nuclear threat against the West, announced that it would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the western part of Belarus, close to the borders of NATO member countries.
According to an Associated Press report on the 2nd (local time), Boris Grizlov, the Russian ambassador to Belarus, said in an interview with Belarusian state TV that day, “The tactical nuclear weapons will go close to (Belarus’) western border.” It will proceed,” he said.
Ambassador Grizlov did not disclose the exact location. However, he said he would complete the tactical nuclear storage by July 1 and move it to the west of Belarus. Belarus shares a 1,250 km border with Poland to the west and NATO member countries such as Latvia and Lithuania to the north. If Russia deploys tactical nuclear weapons west of Belarus, Ukraine and NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe could be potential targets.
Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the 25th of last month, “Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has asked Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons.” Since the end of the 1990s, Belarus, which became independent after the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, has been promoting the creation of an allied state with Russia and maintaining close political, economic and military cooperation. Russian forces invaded northern Ukraine via Belarus in February last year.
On the 31st of last month, President Lukashenko raised the level of the nuclear threat even further by saying that not only Russian tactical nuclear weapons but also Russian strategic nuclear missiles could be deployed in Belarus if necessary. Unlike tactical nuclear weapons, which are used in limited areas such as destroying tank units, strategic nuclear weapons can destroy entire cities.
“Do not say that we only manage (Russia’s) weapons,” Lukashenko said. “These are our weapons and will serve to ensure our sovereignty and independence.”