Belarus and Russia have launched new military drills involving nuclear weapons training, missile forces, and aviation units near NATO’s eastern border.

Belarus has launched new military exercises involving Russian forces and units tasked with the operational use of nuclear weapons, according to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, raising fresh security concerns across Eastern Europe and NATO’s eastern flank.

The drills, announced Monday, involve missile forces and military aviation units training for the deployment and combat use of what Minsk described as “special munitions” — terminology commonly associated with tactical nuclear weapons. Belarus said the exercises are being conducted in coordination with Russia.

According to the Belarusian Defense Ministry, troops will practice long-distance redeployments, concealment operations, movement from unprepared locations, and calculations related to the use of nuclear-capable systems. Officials said the training is intended to improve combat readiness and operational coordination under wartime conditions.

“In cooperation with the Russian side, issues related to the delivery of nuclear munitions and their preparation for use will be practiced,” the ministry said in a statement cited by multiple media outlets.

The exercises come amid heightened tensions between Russia and NATO and growing concerns in Kyiv about Belarus potentially playing a larger military role in the war against Ukraine. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow could be considering new offensive operations either against northern Ukraine or even against NATO member states bordering Belarus, including Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Belarus, ruled by longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko, remains one of Russia’s closest military allies and has allowed Russian troops, missiles, and nuclear assets to be stationed on its territory since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russia officially deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in 2023, marking the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union that Moscow placed nuclear arms outside Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that control over the weapons remains with the Kremlin.

While Belarusian authorities insist the current drills are “not directed against any state” and “do not threaten regional security,” the exercises are likely to intensify concerns among NATO governments already monitoring increased Russian military integration with Minsk.

Military analysts note that nuclear signaling has become a recurring element of Russia’s wartime strategy, particularly as Moscow seeks to deter deeper Western involvement in support of Ukraine. The latest drills also follow recent reports that Russia plans to continue modernizing its nuclear forces and expand deployments of advanced missile systems linked to Belarus.

The exercises underscore how Belarus is becoming increasingly embedded within Russia’s broader military posture – a development that could further reshape the security balance along Europe’s eastern border.

EMPR