Russia has transported nuclear warheads to storage sites inside Belarus as part of a joint three-day military exercise running from May 18 to May 20, 2026. The drills involve roughly 64,000 military personnel, over 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 surface ships, and 13 submarines, making this one of the most expansive nuclear readiness exercises either country has conducted in years.
It is the first significant rehearsal of nuclear procedures on Belarusian soil since 2023.
What the drills actually involve
Belarusian forces are training alongside Russian units on the field delivery and preparation of nuclear munitions. The exercises also feature the Oreshnik intermediate-range missile system, which has been stationed in Belarus since 2025.
The sheer scale of the operation spans land, air, and naval assets. Belarus shares borders with three NATO members: Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
