Russia and Belarus conduct tactical nuclear launch drills during ‘Zapad’ Military Exercise

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko today said that Russia and Belarus are rehearsing the launch of Russian tactical nuclear weapons as part of joint war games. State media quoted the Belarusian chief of staff as saying that the exercises also featured Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile. Russia and Belarus are wrapping up five days of war games, codenamed Zapad (West), in a show of force they say is designed to test their combat readiness. Belarus, which borders Russia and Ukraine, as well as NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, hosts Russian tactical nuclear weapons which Moscow retains command and control of.