IRIA News

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, on May 21, 2026, jointly oversaw large-scale nuclear forces exercises involving both countries, marking the first time the two leaders directly participated together in such drills through a live video conference.

The exercises, conducted between May 19 and 21, included launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and air-launched cruise missiles. Moscow described the drills as part of military preparedness measures carried out under conditions of a “potential threat of aggression.”

Speaking during the opening of the exercise broadcast on the Kremlin’s official website, Putin said nuclear weapons remain “an extreme and exceptional measure for ensuring the national security” of Russia and Belarus.

“Today, as part of the exercises, we are conducting the first joint training of the armies of Russia and Belarus on managing strategic and tactical nuclear forces,” Putin said.

He added that the drills were focused on improving coordination between Russian and Belarusian military officials in the event of nuclear weapons use, including systems stationed on Belarusian territory.

Putin also stressed that the nuclear capabilities of the two countries must remain “a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus” at a time of increasing geopolitical tensions.

Missile Launches and Strategic Weapons

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the exercises involved several advanced strategic weapon systems.

A Russian nuclear-powered submarine launched a Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile from a submerged position during the drills. Russia also conducted a launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome toward a testing range in the Kamchatka region.

In Belarus, military crews carried out a practical launch using the Iskander-M missile system at the Kapustin Yar testing range in Russia.

The exercises also included Tu-95MS strategic bombers launching hypersonic cruise missiles, while a MiG-31 aircraft carried out the launch of a Kinzhal hypersonic missile.

The drills represented one of the most visible demonstrations of joint Russian-Belarusian military coordination since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Lukashenko Says Belarus Does Not Want War

Despite the scale of the exercises, Lukashenko insisted Belarus was not seeking escalation and would only enter the conflict if directly attacked.

“We absolutely threaten no one. But we have such weapons, and we are ready in every possible way to defend our common Fatherland from Brest to Vladivostok,” he said.

The Belarusian leader described the exercises as defensive in nature and said they were part of regular military cooperation between the two allies. According to Lukashenko, the defense ministries and general staffs of Belarus and Russia conduct similar coordination exercises on a quarterly basis.

Addressing concerns about Belarus being drawn deeper into the war in Ukraine, Lukashenko directly rejected claims that Minsk was preparing for direct involvement.

“As for Zelenskyy’s statements that Belarus will be drawn into the war… this will occur in only one instance – if aggression is committed on our territory,” he said.

He added that Belarus and Russia would jointly respond to any attack. “We will together defend our Fatherland… where our two countries stand,” Lukashenko stated.

Ukraine Raises Concerns

The comments came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was attempting to involve Belarus more deeply in the conflict.

In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was strengthening defenses along its northern border due to what he described as “unusual activity” near Belarus.

Russia is “eager to draw Belarus deeper into this war,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine had “the capability to strengthen our defenses, and to work preventively.”

Ukrainian officials have recently increased monitoring along the Belarus border, particularly in northern regions where Kyiv fears renewed military pressure.

Belarus previously allowed Russian forces to use its territory during the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leading to continued concerns in Kyiv that Belarus could again become a launch point for Russian military operations.

Lukashenko Signals Openness to Talks

At the same time, Lukashenko signaled that Minsk remains open to direct talks with Kyiv despite the tensions.

“If Zelenskyy wanted to talk about something, we are open to this. Any location – Ukraine, Belarus, I am ready to meet him and discuss problems in our relations,” he said.

The statement appeared to combine military signaling with an attempt to present Belarus as open to dialogue, even while participating in nuclear exercises with Russia.

Lukashenko also hinted that recent diplomatic contacts between Belarus and the United States may have influenced political tensions surrounding Minsk.

“They see that we are having a specific dialogue with the Americans,” he said. “And not everyone likes that. And that’s why they are nudging Zelenskyy.”

Recent reports have indicated limited diplomatic engagement between Belarus and Washington despite ongoing Western sanctions on Minsk over human rights concerns and support for Russia’s war effort.

Several detainees described by Western governments as political prisoners have reportedly been released in recent months following talks linked to partial sanctions relief.

Strategic Messaging to the West

The joint exercises also carried broader geopolitical significance as Russia continues to signal its nuclear capabilities amid tensions with NATO and Western support for Ukraine.

Since the start of the war, Moscow has repeatedly used nuclear messaging as part of its broader deterrence strategy against the West. The deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus further strengthened military integration between the two countries.

The latest drills demonstrated not only operational coordination between Russian and Belarusian forces but also Moscow’s effort to showcase readiness across multiple nuclear delivery platforms, including submarine-based, land-based, and air-launched systems.

For Belarus, the exercises reinforced Lukashenko’s position as one of Russia’s closest military allies while also allowing Minsk to project deterrence without formally entering the war in Ukraine.

Even as both leaders insisted the drills were defensive, the exercises are likely to increase concerns in Ukraine and among NATO members over military escalation in Eastern Europe.