Allies Russia and Belarus have staged joint nuclear weapons drills in Belarus as tensions grow with NATO member states in the Baltic region
Russian ally Belarus has staged simulated nuclear missile launches as tensions grow with neighbouring NATO member states.
In a series of three-day drills with Russian forces, Iskander-M tactical missiles were delivered to field locations in a show of strength by the repressive states. Belarus shares borders with Russia, Ukraine and three NATO states – Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
The Russian Defence Ministry said: “The personnel of the missile unit of the Republic of Belarus are performing training-combat tasks for receiving special warheads for the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile complex, equipping the carrier missiles, and covertly advancing to the designated area to prepare for launches.”
The Belarusian Defence Ministry said: “After the missiles had been loaded onto the launchers, the transport and loading vehicles moved covertly to a new area. Once there, the missile unit carried out simulated missile launches at designated targets.”
Footage showed the Iskander-M missiles on the launchers. Warplanes also “simulated bombings with nuclear munitions against mock targets before returning to base. Russian forces practiced bringing nuclear combat units to the highest alert state.”
It came after two Russian warplanes “dangerously” intercepted an unarmed RAF spy plane over the Black Sea last month, the UK Ministry of Defence revealed on Wednesday.
A Russian Su-35 fighter approached the RAF Rivet Joint aircraft – close enough to trigger its emergency systems – while a Su-27 jet carried out six passes in front of it.
Moscow warned Britain against sending its reconnaissance aircraft to the Black Sea for regular patrols over in international airspace. The British plane was unarmed but the Russian aircraft were packed with missiles, according to Moscow sources.
Kremlin propagandist-in-chief Vladimir Solovyov on state-controlled TV urged Britain to halt such Black Sea flights.
“The UK Ministry of Defence reported that last month two Russian fighter jets intercepted an unarmed RAF IC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft,” he said.
“[It was] over the Black Sea, conducting a routine flight in international airspace. And why fly it? Get out of here! Where’s the Black Sea and where’s Britain? What have you forgotten? Get out of here, don’t let anyone even come close.”
Russia sees such flights by NATO spy planes as scoping targets for attack by Ukraine. Kyiv revealed that in one clinical strike this week 65 Russian special forces cadets were “eliminated” in a strike by its Unmanned Aerial Systems Forces. The cadets were training as drone operators in occupied Donetsk.
The centre’s chief call sign “Buryi”, from the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, was also killed, according to Ukrainian sources. A total of 11 strike drones with a combat load of 100 kilograms hit the training facility, according to reports.
