Russia moves nuclear warheads to Belarus for joint drills

Russia transferred tactical nuclear warheads to pre‑positioned field storage sites in Belarus, completing a three‑day joint exercise that ran from May 18 to May 21. The drills featured Iskander‑M missile systems, which can carry conventional or nuclear payloads, and were overseen by President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Russian authorities emphasized that operational control of the warheads remains with Moscow and that the exercises were not directed at any specific country.

The maneuvers highlight growing interoperability between Russian and Belarusian missile brigades and occur against heightened tensions with NATO over the war in Ukraine. Analysts note that the drills increase geopolitical risk, including for markets linked to Eastern‑European crypto infrastructure, as Belarus pursues regulatory changes and the EU expands sanctions on Russian crypto platforms.