Completion of Russian Nuclear Weapons Shipments by Belarus Leader Raises Regional Concerns

TALLINN, Estonia—The president of Belarus stated on Monday that Russia has finished delivering tactical nuclear weapons to his country, a move that has caused concern in neighboring Poland and the surrounding region.

President Alexander Lukashenko announced at a meeting of a Moscow-led economic bloc in St. Petersburg that the deliveries were completed in October. However, he did not disclose the quantity of weapons sent or their deployment locations.

Tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield and have a shorter range and lower yield compared to the much more powerful nuclear warheads fitted to long-range missiles. Russia has stated that it will maintain control over the weapons it sends to Belarus.

Mr. Lukashenko has claimed that hosting Russian nuclear weapons in his country is intended to deter aggression by Poland, a NATO member. Poland is providing military, humanitarian, and political support to neighbor Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s invasion and is participating in international sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

Russian troops stationed in Belarus entered Ukraine from the north in the early days of the war, but Belarusian forces are not known to have been involved.