Belarus Builds New Base Near Ukraine, Sparking Nuclear Tensions
In Osipovichi, Belarus, located in the Mogilev region, a new military base is reportedly under construction to house nuclear weapons, according to "The New York Times." The report highlights, "Some of the recently built structures there have features that are unique to nuclear storage facilities at bases inside Russia," indicating a significant development in the area.
6:39 PM EDT, May 10, 2024
The site is roughly 124 miles north of the Ukrainian border, situated within a military warehouse zone near Osipovichi.
Security measures: Triple fences and a bunker
"For example, a new, highly secure area is surrounded by three layers of fencing, in addition to the existing security perimeter of the entire base. Another telltale sign is a covered loading area connected to what appears to be a concealed Soviet-era underground bunker," the "NYT" reports.
Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists, who examined the site, remarked that the nuclear developments in Belarus appear intended to unsettle NATO's eastern members but are unlikely to grant Russia any significant new military leverage in the region.
Reintroduction of nuclear weapons to Belarus
Nuclear warheads are typically stored close to bases where the weapons are deployed. The speculated nuclear depot is co-located with the Belarusian Iskander missile systems, capable of launching either nuclear or conventional payloads. Russia supplied Belarus with these missiles in 2022.
William Moon, an independent consultant and ex-Pentagon Defense Threat Reduction Agency official, informed "The Times" that the base's modernization in Osipovichi—with its triple fencing, single main entrance, and an emergency exit—mirrors Russian nuclear storage sites he has observed. Moon has also worked with Russia on nuclear warhead security.
Historically significant, Osipovichi has a nuclear past. According to "NYT", this site was likely a nuclear weapons storage location during the Cold War. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, Belarus had all nuclear arms removed from its territory.
Conducting tests with tactical nuclear weapons
On May 6, the Kremlin declared plans for military drills with troops near Ukraine, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of tactical nuclear weapons. The following day, the Belarusian Defense Minister informed state media that "tests of the tactical missile system Iskander and other nuclear delivery systems had commenced."
