Russia says it is deploying nuclear munitions to storage facilities in Belarus as part of three days of drills between the two allies north of Ukraine.
The drills will also involve tests of nuclear-capable missiles as well as the processes for moving them in secret ahead of launch, Russia’s defence ministry said.
The exercises will be held in Russia and Belarus as Russian president Vladimir Putin returns from his two-day trip to China.
It comes as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a possible fresh ground offensive from Russia against the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
Such an operation would likely be made possible by deeper involvement from Belarus, Zelensky said.
Earlier, the UK accused Russia of conducting dangerous fighter jet flybys within 6 metres of a Royal Air Force surveillance plan over the Black Sea, warning against the risk of potential escalation between Nato and Russia.
“Let me be very clear: This incident will not deter the UK’s commitment to defend Nato, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression,” defence secretary John Healey said.
