Russia and Belarus have initiated the second phase of tactical nuclear weapons drills, a part of Moscow’s strategy to deter the West from increasing support for Ukraine.

These exercises were announced by Russia last month, following statements by French President Emmanuel Macron hinting at potential troop deployment to Ukraine and NATO allies, including the US, agreeing to let Kyiv use Western-supplied arms on targets within Russian border regions.

Initial Exercises and Current Training

The initial phase of these drills, conducted last month, focused on nuclear mission preparation and the process of arming and deploying missiles.

Starting Tuesday, Russian and Belarusian forces will engage in joint training involving non-strategic nuclear weapons for combat use. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that the exercise aims to maintain readiness of both personnel and equipment, ensuring the “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the Russia-Belarus alliance.

Responses and Statements

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighted the tension in Europe, stressing the importance of such drills and combat readiness in light of “hostile actions” by the US and its allies, coupled with their “daily provocations.”

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, President Vladimir Putin of Russia has repeatedly asserted that nuclear weapons could be an option for defending Russia under extreme circumstances.

Nuclear Deployment and Tactical Weapons

Last year, Russia deployed some tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, bordering Ukraine and NATO nations Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has maintained a strong relationship with Russia and offered his country as a strategic base for the conflict in Ukraine.

Tactical nuclear weapons, which include air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles, and artillery ammunition, are designed for battlefield use and typically have less destructive power than strategic nuclear weapons, which are meant to annihilate entire cities.

However, President Vladimir Putin has emphasized that even Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons are significantly more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped by the US on Japan in August 1945.

Last week, Putin proclaimed the West’s assumption that Russia would never utilize its nuclear arsenal as erroneous.

Russia's nuclear doctrine allows for the use of nuclear weapons if the existence of the Russian state is threatened.

US officials have noted no shifts in Russia’s strategic nuclear posture but take Moscow’s nuclear threats seriously according to senior intelligence representatives.

Russia and the United States together command approximately 88 percent of the world’s nuclear arsenal, as reported by the Federation of American Scientists.