Putin admits the transfer of the first nuclear weapons to Belarus.
Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has announced that an initial batch of tactical nuclear weapons has been deployed in Belarus. He emphasised that these weapons would only be utilised if Russia’s territory or state faced a threat. The United States government has stated that there is no evidence suggesting that the Kremlin intends to employ nuclear weapons to attack Ukraine. Belarus, a significant ally of Russia, served as a launching point for Putin’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of the previous year.
Putin disclosed that the transfer of these tactical nuclear warheads would be finalised by the end of the summer. During a question-and-answer session following a speech at the “St. Petersburg International Economic Forum,” he explained that the move was aimed at “containment” and to serve as a reminder to those considering a strategic defeat against Russia.
“Tactical nuclear weapons” are compact warheads and delivery systems designed for use on the battlefield or for limited strikes. Their purpose is to destroy enemy targets in a specific area without causing extensive radioactive fallout.
The smallest “tactical nuclear weapons” can have a yield of one kiloton or less, equivalent to a thousand tonnes of “TNT explosive,” while the largest can reach up to 100 kilotons. To provide context, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 had a yield of 15 kilotons.
Putin reiterated his belief that Ukraine had no chance of succeeding in its ongoing counteroffensive. He claimed that the Ukrainian military was running low on its own equipment and would soon rely solely on donated Western equipment. Ukraine has rejected such statements in the past, asserting that it is making progress in reclaiming territories in both eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar reported that units in the south of the country had advanced in all directions by 2 kilometres.
Additionally, Putin addressed economic matters, asserting that Western sanctions had failed to isolate Russia and instead led to an expansion of its trade with “the markets of the future.” He praised new trade agreements with countries in Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, characterising them as “reliable, responsible partners.”
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