Behind Russia's nuclear exercises with Belarus

According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the exercises focused on "the preparation and use of nuclear forces in the context of a threat of aggression."

Convoys of intercontinental ballistic missiles rumbled along forest roads, nuclear-powered submarines left ports in the Arctic and Pacific, and crews quickly took their positions on fighter jets as Russia and Belarus conducted the final phase of their joint nuclear exercises on May 21, according to AP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed these exercises in a video call with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Sergei Bobylev/Sputnik/Kremlin/AP.

Earlier, Lukashenko inspected the Iskander short-range ballistic missile system, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, at a military unit participating in the exercises.

The three-day exercise, which began on May 19, took place against the backdrop of increased Ukrainian drone attacks, including one in the suburbs of Moscow that killed three people and damaged numerous buildings and industrial facilities.

The exercise involved a variety of weapons.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the exercise involved 64,000 troops, more than 200 missile launchers, over 140 aircraft, 73 surface warships, and 13 submarines, including eight submarines equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads. The exercise focused on “preparing and using nuclear forces in the context of an invasion threat,” according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The exercises were conducted in coordination with Belarus, an ally that deploys Russian nuclear weapons on its territory. Russia's arsenal in Belarus includes the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system, capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

In addition to intercontinental ballistic missiles launched from land and submarines, the exercise also featured a variety of short- and medium-range weapons.

Unlike intercontinental ballistic missiles that can destroy entire cities, tactical nuclear weapons are designed for battlefield use against smaller enemy forces. These include air-dropped nuclear bombs, warheads for short- and medium-range missiles, and so on.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its armed forces had test-fired Yars and Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as sea-launched Zircon and air-launched Kinzhal missiles, and confirmed that all missiles hit their simulated targets. The Belarusian military also test-fired Iskander short-range ballistic missiles in Russia.

This image is taken from a video provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense Press Service on May 21, 2026, showing a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile during exercises by Russian nuclear forces in Belarus. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense Press Service/AP.

Nuclear message from the Kremlin

President Putin has repeatedly "reminded" the world of Moscow's nuclear arsenal since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 aimed at preventing the West from increasing its support for Kyiv.

In 2024, the Kremlin adopted a revised nuclear doctrine, which stipulates that any conventional attack on Russia backed by a nuclear power would be considered a joint attack on the country. This threat was clearly aimed at deterring the West from allowing Ukraine to attack Russia with longer-range weapons, while also seemingly significantly lowering the threshold for using Moscow's nuclear arsenal.

The revised doctrine also places Belarus under Russia's "nuclear umbrella." Putin said Moscow would retain control of nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus, which borders Ukraine and NATO members Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, but would allow allies to choose targets in the event of a conflict.

Ukrainian drones appear in the Baltic region.

The exercises took place amid increased drone activity in the Baltic states. On May 19, NATO fighter jets shot down a Ukrainian drone over southern Estonia. Ukraine apologized for the “unintended incident” without providing further details.

On May 20, an emergency alert about the detection of a drone flying over Belarus prompted residents of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, including high-ranking officials and parliamentarians, to seek shelter and the city's airport to be temporarily closed.

Ukrainian drones, targeting Russian ports and energy facilities in the Baltic region, have recently repeatedly flown over or crashed into NATO territory. Western officials attribute this to Russian electronic jamming of these drones.

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service claimed on May 19 that Ukraine was preparing drone attacks against Russia from the Baltic states, and warned of retaliation. The agency accused Ukrainian military personnel of being deployed to Latvia and warned that NATO membership would not protect Latvia from “just punishment.” Latvian officials, however, denied the accusation.

Last month, the Russian Ministry of Defense published a list of factories in Europe that it claims are involved in producing drones and components for Ukraine. The ministry warned that attacks on Russia using drones manufactured in Europe could have “unpredictable consequences.”

Some analysts suggest that Moscow's tough rhetoric and this week's exercises involving short- and medium-range nuclear weapons capable of striking targets in Europe are part of the Kremlin's effort to deter Western allies from increasing their support for Ukraine.

When asked about the message the nuclear exercises were intended to send, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied that "any exercise is aimed at sending a signal," but declined to comment further.

>>> Readers are invited to watch the video: US and South Korea conduct Freedom Shield exercises in March 2024

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/dang-sau-viec-nga-tap-tran-hat-nhan-voi-belarus-post2149101245.html