Ukraine War Update! Vladimir Putin Will Deploy Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belarus

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — It has been over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Yet, notwithstanding the increasing Western sanctions on Moscow, President Vladimir Putin continues to show no remorse. If anything, he seems to get even bolder.

He threatens Europe again with a nuclear war, suggesting that the Kremlin may deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. 

To force the United States and its partners to back down from supporting Ukraine, Putin said he could place nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe as early as this summer. 

Speaking to the state-owned television channel Russia-1, Putin said that work is underway to build a special facility in Belarus to store the said nukes.  

“On April 3, we start training crews… On July 1, we are completing the construction of a special storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus,” 

Putin said.

Putin noted that Alexander Lukashenko, the long-time authoritarian leader of Belarus, had repeatedly asked to place Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. 

However, the recent decision of the British authorities to supply depleted uranium shells to Ukraine has made Moscow heed Lukashenko’s request. 

Belarus, a Russian satellite state, is a growing European problem 

During the telecast interview, Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow had already transferred an Iskander short-range missile system to Belarus. It is a significant threat as one can fit nuclear or conventional warheads on the much-coveted Russian device. 

Putin also admitted that Russia had helped Belarus convert ten aircraft to make them capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads. Moreover, Moscow will begin training Belarusan pilots to fly the modified planes next month. 

Belarus is perhaps the most outspoken Russian ally. Its dictator, Lukashenko, has served as the country’s first and only president since establishing the Presidency in 1994. Being in power for nearly three decades has made him the longest-sitting president in Europe. 

Moreover, Lukashenko serves as the Chairman of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, a supranational union between Russia and Belarus. 

During the invasion of Ukraine, Lukashenko provided moral, diplomatic, and logistic support to Moscow.

His country shares a border with both Russia and Ukraine. Several experts have increasingly warned that Vladimir Putin could launch fresh attacks from the country, thus opening a new front for Kyiv. Others have even expressed fear that Belarusan troops could join their ‘Russian brothers’ in the invasion. 

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly pointed out Europe’s threat from Kremlin’s satellite Belarus. 

Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, called Belarus “a nuclear hostage” of Russia.

“Putin’s statement about placing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus – a step towards internal destabilization of the country – maximizes the level of negative perception and public rejection of Russia and Putin in Belarusian society. The kremlin took Belarus as a nuclear hostage,” 

Danilov said in reaction to Putin’s announcement. 

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If the United States can deploy nuclear weapons, so can Russia

In Vladimir Putin’s books, the decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons is justified. Putin announced he wouldn’t hand over charge or transfer these weapons to Minsk. This would help it avoid violating any agreements on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.

In Putin’s reasoning, Russia is doing the same thing the United States has done for decades. He argues that the US deployed its tactical weapons in several NATO countries.

“We, in principle, are doing everything that they have been doing for decades. They have allies in certain countries and their carriers are trained, and their crews are trained. We are going to do the same,” 

Putin announced.

However, his announcements did not go unanswered. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) spokesperson Oana Lungescu called Putin’s rhetoric “dangerous and irresponsible.”

Meanwhile, the Pentagon and the Biden Administration have called Putin’s bluff. According to reports, the White House sees no urgent threat coming from Belarus. 

“We saw no reason to change the readiness of our nuclear forces, nor signs that Russia was preparing to use nuclear weapons,” 

the US Department of Defense said in a statement. 

President Biden also received calls from his Democratic party teammates urging him not to give in to Putin’s provocations. 

Reacting to the news, Congressman Frank Pallone called for continued support to defend Kyiv against the Russian offense. 

It is too early to determine if Vladimir Putin will use Belarus as a launchpad for new attacks. However, the West would be foolish to underestimate the lengths he is willing to go to.