Putin Moved His Nuclear Weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin moved some of his tactical nuclear weapons this week amid the war with Ukraine.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed on Tuesday that a shipment of tactical nuclear weapons from Russia was completed, the Associated Press reported. Lukashenko previously stated that the movement of nuclear weapons from Russia to Belarus is related to efforts to curb threats from Poland, a member of NATO, amid Moscow's war with Ukraine.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian and Belarusian Ministries of Foreign Affairs via email for comment.

The announcement this week comes a few months after Russia first announced it was planning to station some tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, an ally of Putin and Moscow.

In May, Lukashenko confirmed some nuclear weapons were already being sent to Belarus, prompting some concern from the United States and other Western nations.

"The movement of the nuclear weapons has already begun," Lukashenko said in May while meeting with reporters in Moscow, Reuters reported.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also spoke about the movement of nuclear weapons in May, saying, "The collective West is essentially waging an undeclared war against our countries." He added that Western nations are seeking "to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine."

In June, Putin confirmed that the first shipment of tactical nuclear weapons had made it to Belarus and they were being stationed in the country. He was asked about the movement of nuclear weapons to Belarus and if Russia has considered the possibility of using them.

"Why should we threaten the whole world? I have already said that the use of extreme measures is possible in case there is a danger to Russian statehood," Putin said in response, according to the BBC, adding that it should serve as a reminder to any other nations "thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on us."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after Putin's comments, "We have no reason to adjust our own nuclear posture."

"We don't see any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon," Blinken said in June, adding that the United States will "continue to monitor the situation very closely and very carefully."

Russia's war with Ukraine is nearing its third year in February with fighting continuing in numerous parts of Ukraine. The United States has supplied Ukraine with several different defense assistance packages, including economic aid and military equipment.

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