Belarusian Chief of General Staff Pavlo Muraveyko said the country would use tactical nuclear weapons deployed on Belarusian territory if Belarus’ sovereignty or independence was threatened, the Belarusian state news portal Belta reported on June 30.
“We have learned to handle these weapons. We know how to use them confidently. We are capable of doing so. And you can be sure: we will do it if the sovereignty and independence of our country is threatened,” Pavel Muraveiko said during a televised address, according to Belta.
A day earlier, the Belarusian military had claimed that Ukraine was allegedly stationing its troops on the common state border to carry out “acts of sabotage and terrorist attacks,” the state news portal Belta reported.
The Kyiv Independent was unable to verify the claim that Ukraine is moving its troops closer to the border with Belarus. Belarus’ state-run news agencies, on the other hand, have a long history of making unsubstantiated claims.
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Although Belarus itself does not have any nuclear weapons, Russia is said to have moved part of its nuclear arsenal to Belarus.
The Center for Combating Disinformation of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council said in May that Russia may be prepared to conduct a new psychological operation The aim is to “stir up mass panic” in Ukraine. The plan is to make Kiev believe that Belarusian troops will join the Russian war against Ukraine, according to the center.
“We expect a series of provocative statements from the top leadership of Russia and Belarus that threaten Ukraine soon,” the opinion said.
“Tension rises” on the border with Belarus, Minsk accuses Kyiv of sending troops
The Center for Combating Disinformation of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council said in May that Russia may decide to launch a new psychological operation aimed at “instilling mass panic” in Ukraine. The plan was to make Kyiv believe that Belarusian troops would join Russia’s war against Ukraine.
