The armies of Russia and Belarus have begun to practice the combat use of nuclear weapons in response to NATO activity
The exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces should demonstrate determination and psychological readiness to use such weapons if the situation requires it, experts interviewed by Izvestia said. On June 11, the second stage of the maneuvers started. At this stage, the issues of joint training of the troops of Russia and Belarus for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons will be worked out. The Russian-Belarusian maneuvers are taking place against the background of high NATO military activity near Russia's western borders. As stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the exercises are a warning to Western politicians about the danger of being drawn into a direct armed confrontation with Russia.
To the second stage
On Tuesday, June 11, the second stage of the exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces began. According to the Ministry of Defense, during it, issues of joint training of units of the Armed Forces of Russia and Belarus for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons will be worked out.
"The exercises are aimed at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment of units for the combat use of non—strategic nuclear weapons of Russia and Belarus in order to unconditionally ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union State," the military department said.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
"During such exercises, the preparation of nuclear warheads for delivery, the supply of nuclear warheads, and loading onto carriers should be practiced," Admiral Sergei Avakyants, former commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet, told Izvestia. — Secondly, the passage of signals for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be worked out. And, thirdly, and most importantly, the tactics of the actions of troops and forces in the conditions of the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons by the enemy and us must be worked out.
According to the Admiral, such maneuvers should demonstrate to the enemies our psychological readiness and determination to use, including non-strategic nuclear weapons, if the situation requires it.
— Besides, it should show that we have these weapons in sufficient quantity. And that our forces and troops are ready to act in the face of the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. And besides, we will definitely use these weapons if necessary," concluded Sergey Avakyants.
According to Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Militaryrussia portal, during such training, transportation, escort, and protection of nuclear combat units to missile brigades and long-range aviation bases are carried out. This is a whole procedure that is being worked out.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
— Judging by the video published by the military department, they continue to export missiles with nuclear warheads, — the expert told Izvestia. — Probably, they are trained in missile brigades to install combat units, and then — export to the field, installation from transport-loading machines to launchers and conducting conditional launches. They can be conducted electronically. The second thing we saw was the Dagger aviation missile system with MiG-31K carriers. Combat units are brought in, hung under the planes, and the planes flew. The launches were probably conditional, and the missiles can be either real or with mock-ups of nuclear warheads.
The first stage of the exercise started on May 21. During it, the personnel of the missile formations of the Southern Military District worked out combat training tasks for obtaining special munitions for Iskander complexes, equipping launch vehicles with them and secretly advancing to the designated positional area to prepare for missile launches. The personnel of the Russian Aerospace Forces have worked out the equipment with special combat units of aviation weapons, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, and sorties to designated patrol areas.
On May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Belarus would join Russia in the second stage of the exercises.
"Since non-strategic nuclear weapons are deployed on the territory of Belarus, this time we invited our friends and allies, and the President of Belarus asked for it, to take part in one of the stages of this exercise. We hold them regularly," the head of state said.
Photo: RIA Novosti/The press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
He clarified that the exercises are held in three stages, and Belarusian colleagues will join joint actions at the second of them.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko explained that the first stages of the relevant exercises were held separately in both countries, but now Moscow and Minsk have decided to synchronize these events.
The exercises, which were announced on May 6, are being conducted on behalf of the President of Russia under the leadership of the General Staff. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the maneuvers were being conducted in response to "provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation." They are aimed at maintaining the readiness to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian Federation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the exercises are a warning to Western politicians, and the department expects that the event will "cool down hotheads" in Western capitals, help realize the possible catastrophic consequences of the strategic risks they generate and keep them from both assisting the Kiev regime in its terrorist actions and from being drawn into a direct armed confrontation with Russia.
Meanwhile, in the Atlantic
Simultaneously with the exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces, maneuvers of a group of ships of the Northern Fleet on the use of high-precision missile weapons in the Atlantic Ocean are taking place. It includes the Kazan Project 885M multipurpose nuclear submarine missile cruiser and the frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov.
Frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov
Image source: Photo: TASS/Lev Fedoseev
"As part of the exercise, the crews of the frigate and the nuclear submarine missile cruiser are practicing the use of high—precision missile weapons using computer simulation for naval targets designating ship groupings of a conditional enemy and located at a distance of over 600 kilometers," the military department said.
"Don't teach us democracy"
— Neither Russia nor Belarus want a big war. We are well aware that no matter how much someone says that they want peace and do not threaten anyone, this does not save them from a big war," Oleg Gaidukevich, deputy chairman of the International Affairs Commission of the Parliament of Belarus, told Izvestia. — We have the example of Iraq and examples of bombing of other countries.
The second risk is the lack of independence of Europe, in particular, Poland and the Baltic States, the Belarusian parliamentarian added: the people in these countries do not want war, but no one asks them, as Ukrainians were not asked at the time, either in 2014 on the Maidan, or when the war against Russia was unleashed.
Photo: RIA Novosti/The press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
"We understand that the only way to avoid war is to be strong and show our strength," Oleg Gaidukevich said. — We emphasize that we never threaten anyone. We have a huge territory of the Union State — we have everything. And the most important message: those who want to drag Europe into a war should understand that they will also be visited if there is suddenly a big conflict. We all do this with one goal in mind — we want peace. By conducting these exercises, Russia and Belarus are saving Europe from a big war, showing that we should not climb, we should not interfere with our lives. There is no need to teach us democracy, elections.
An unsettled situation
The training of Russia's non-strategic nuclear forces is taking place against the background of high NATO military activity near the country's western borders. From February to May, the NATO exercise Steadfast Defender 2024 took place. They became the largest in recent decades and were aimed at preparing for a possible conflict with Russia. About 50 ships, 80 aircraft and 1.1 thousand units of military ground equipment, including 133 tanks and about 90 thousand military personnel, were involved in the maneuvers. They took place on the territory of the Baltic states, as well as Poland and Germany.
British Army soldiers during the NATO exercise Steadfast Defender 2024
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
On June 5, the Baltops-24 exercises started, in which 50 ships of various classes and types, 45 helicopters and airplanes and 9 thousand military personnel from 20 countries take part. For the first time, Sweden is participating in them as a member of the alliance.
According to the exercise program, the naval and air forces of the participating countries conduct training on combat operations in the Baltic Sea - detecting and combating submarines, setting up minefields and fighting them, landing troops, organizing the interaction of diverse forces. On land, the exercises will affect the territories of Sweden, Poland, Lithuania and Germany.
Roman Kretsul
Ekaterina Khamova
