Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Russia had begun transferring nuclear weapons to his country, fulfilling an announcement made in March by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“The transfer of nuclear payloads has already begun,” said Lukashenko, answering a journalist’s question in a video broadcast on the unofficial channel of the Belarusian presidency on the Telegram platform, Pul Pervogo.
Russia, for its part, has not yet commented on the transfer of weapons.
Russia and Belarus signed an agreement this Thursday that formalizes procedures for sending and installing tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory, but maintains control over weapons in Moscow.
In March, Vladimir Putin indicated that he had already agreed with his Belarusian counterpart Moscow on the intention to install short-range tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
The signing of the agreement comes as Russia prepares for a long-awaited counter-offensive from Ukraine.
Both Russian and Belarusian officials believe the move was prompted by the hostility of the West, which in turn has already criticized the decision.
Putin indicated that the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would be completed by July 1.
The decision was also criticized by the leader of the Belarusian opposition in exile, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
“We must do everything we can to stop Putin’s plan to install nuclear weapons in Belarus, as this will guarantee Russian control over Belarus for years to come,” Tikhanovskaya told the Associated Press news agency (AP).
“This will further jeopardize the security of Ukraine and all of Europe,” he added.
Russia and Belarus have an alliance agreement under which the Kremlin subsidizes the Belarusian economy through loans and rebates on Russian oil and gas.
Russia used Belarusian territory as a starting point for its invasion of neighboring Ukraine and has a contingent of troops and weapons in the country.
Alexander Lukashenko also said this Thursday that he is prepared for a possible invasion of Belarusian territory, adding that he was “aware” of rumors of a possible uprising against the Minsk regime.
Lukashenko was responding to comments from a senior Polish official who warned on Wednesday of the possible preparation of an uprising in Belarus.
“Unfortunately, they do not pay attention to my words. They have probably known what I said for months (…). We have known for a long time and are preparing for it,” Lukashenko said, quoted by state news agency Belta. .
In this regard, the Belarusian leader assured that the authorities are “following the trail” of potential instigators.
“We actually know who they are, we know where they are and we know their names. We are ready. Let them in,” Lukashenko challenged.
Source: DN
