Belarus declares it is 'preparing for nuclear attack' in cooperation with Russia

 Belarus says it is training military units for a nuclear weapons attack.

The country's Ministry of Defence said this morning that military units will be taking part in an exercise "in cooperation with" Russia to "practise the delivery of nuclear munitions and their preparation for use".

Major General Pavel Muraveiko, First Deputy Minister of Defence of Belarus, said his military had today "commenced training in the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support".

The aim of the exercise is to "improve the level of training of personnel, test the readiness of the Armed Forces to carry out tasks, and organise combat deployment from unplanned areas", the ministry said.

Missile units and planes are being deployed for the exercise. The ministry said it was being carried out "in cooperation with the Russian side" - although the exact extent of Russian involvement remains unclear.

"The main feature of this exercise will be a test of readiness to carry out combat missions from unprepared areas across the entire territory of the Republic of Belarus," the ministry went on.

The statement also said forces will be "practising issues of concealment, movement over significant distances, and conducting calculations for the deployment of forces and assets".

The exercise will not be "directed against third countries" and does not pose a threat to security in the region, the ministry insisted.

This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested Vladimir Putin is plotting a strike on NATO territory in the Baltics.

Citing leaked intelligence documents, Zelensky suggested Putin plans to stage an offensive from Belarus, which could also be used for an attack on Kyiv’s key decision-making hubs. The plot may put Poland and Baltic states Lithuania and Latvia, which share borders with Belarus, in the firing line.

“Russia is considering plans for operations to the south and north of Belarusian territory – either against the Chernihiv-Kyiv direction in Ukraine or against one of the NATO countries directly from the territory of Belarus,” Zelensky said.