Russian authorities say nuclear munitions have been moved into field storage sites in Belarus as part of joint military drills, according to statements from the Russian Defense Ministry reported by Reuters. The exercises, which last three days and began earlier this week, are taking place across Russia and Belarus amid heightened tensions with Western countries over the war in Ukraine.

Belarus says it has launched joint drills with Russia to practice the use of nuclear weapons that Moscow has deployed on the territory of its neighbor and ally.

Demonstrative military and nuclear exercises in Belarus are part of Russia’s strategy to create an additional threat to Ukraine in order to force it to redeploy forces to the…