At a meeting of a Moscow-led economic bloc in St. Petersburg, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus announced that Russia has completed its shipments of tactical nuclear weapons to his country, causing concern in neighboring Poland and the wider region. President Lukashenko did not disclose the specific details of the shipments, such as the number of weapons sent or their deployment locations, but stated that the shipments were completed in October.
Tactical nuclear weapons, which are intended for use on the battlefield, have a shorter range and lower yield than the more powerful nuclear warheads fitted to long-range missiles. Russia has indicated that it will retain control over the weapons it sends to Belarus. President Lukashenko has cited the presence of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus as a deterrent against aggression by Poland, a NATO member. Poland has been providing military, humanitarian, and political support to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, and has joined international sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
While Russian troops based in Belarus took part in the invasion of Ukraine from the north, Belarusian forces did not appear to be directly involved in the conflict. This raises concerns about the potential use and impact of the newly deployed tactical nuclear weapons in the region.