One of V. Putin’s most notorious allies is Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. They recently met in Moscow. The Russians later announced they will supply Belarus with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-will-supply-bela…
“We will transfer Iskander-M tactical missile systems to Belarus, which can use both ballistic and cruise missiles, both in conventional and nuclear versions,” a foreign ministry summary of the meeting quoted him as saying.
The Iskander-M, a mobile guided missile system codenamed “SS-26 Stone” by NATO, replaced the Soviet “Scud”. Its two guided missiles have a range of up to 500 km (300 miles) and can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
With a range of 500 km, these are obviously not intercontinental missiles. But the weapons could still threaten much of Ukraine, the Baltic states, and other parts of eastern Europe.
My own opinion is this is just nuclear saber-rattling. Belarus does not have nuclear weapons, nor the capability of producing them. Putin would need to give them away, and he is unlikely to take that step.
- Pete