Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko participated via videoconference in the first joint nuclear forces exercise on May 21, 2026 [1, 2]. The drills, held from May 19 to 21, involved coordinated training of Russia and Belarus armies on managing strategic and tactical nuclear forces for the first time [1, 2].

Putin said, "Today, as part of the exercises, we are conducting the first joint training of the armies of Russia and Belarus on managing strategic and tactical nuclear forces" [1]. He added that "use of nuclear weapons remains an extreme and exceptional measure for ensuring the national security" [2].

The Russia-Belarus nuclear triad includes weapons deployable by land, sea, and air and serves as a guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus [1, 2]. The drill aimed to practice coordination and interaction between military officials in case of nuclear weapons use, including systems deployed in Belarus [1, 2].

The exercises featured practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles. These included Yars ballistic missile launches, Zircon hypersonic missile tests, and Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles fired from submerged submarines [1, 2]. Moscow described the drills as a demonstration of military preparedness under a potential threat of aggression [2].

Lukashenko called the drills defensive in nature and part of regular military coordination. He said, "We absolutely threaten no one. But we have such weapons, and we are ready in every possible way to defend our common Fatherland from Brest to Vladivostok" [2]. He also noted, "The exercises were defensive in nature and represented the only demonstration from our side. Countries possessing such capabilities must know how to use them" [1].

The joint drills marked a notable step in Russia-Belarus military integration of nuclear operations and tested cooperation across multiple delivery platforms. The leaders’ participation by videoconference symbolized the significance Moscow and Minsk assign to the exercise.

The next scheduled related exercises or announcements have not yet been disclosed by officials.