Russia and Belarus staged nuclear drills on Monday, authorities said, amid a standoff with the NATO military alliance and an impasse with Washington over nuclear arms control.
Russia deployed Oreshnik, its latest hypersonic, nuclear-capable missile, to Belarus last year, upping the stakes in its rivalry with the Western alliance.
"During the exercise, it is planned to practise issues related to the delivery of nuclear munitions and preparation of their use in cooperation with the Russian side," the Belarus defence ministry said.
The scheduled training "is not directed against third countries and does not pose a threat to security in the region," it added in a statement on social media.
Aviation and missile forces will take part in the drill, the ministry said.
