Belarus launches military drills with nuclear planning, recalling its role in Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine

Military exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have begun in Belarus, with more than 2,000 Belarusian troops participating alongside from Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

According to German broadcaster DW, the drills will involve 450 pieces of weaponry and military equipment, including nine aircraft and helicopters, as well as more than 70 drones of various types, though no nuclear weapons will be physically deployed.

“You cannot use something that, let’s say, threatens the whole world and global security. But we will train on how to plan for it,” said Major General Pavel Muraveiko, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Belarus.

Self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko reportedly ordered the exercises to be moved deeper inland to avoid accusations of potential provocations.

This phase of the drills runs until Sept. 6, while the joint Russian-Belarusian exercises “Zapad-2025” are scheduled to begin on Sept. 12. 

Officially, Minsk claims the goal is test the countries’ capabilities to “ensure security” and “repel potential aggression.”

BBC News Ukraine noted that “[these exercises] are a direct analogue of the 2021 Zapad drills, after which the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began” in February 2022. 

It was partially enabled by Belarus because Minsk had granted its territory a staging ground for Russian troops and missile strikes. 

Earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry warned Minsk against reckless provocations, advising it to “remain prudent, not to approach the borders and not to provoke the Defense Forces of Ukraine.”

“We remember the bitter experience and the price of the false statements of the Russian and Belarusian dictators. The build-up of Russian troops on the borders of Ukraine in 2021-2022 took place under the cover of the joint military exercises of Russia and Belarus “Zapad-2021,” the statement reads.

The ministry also urged international partners to “to remain vigilant, to increase sanctions and political pressure on Russia and Belarus.”