{"id":2290,"date":"2026-05-19T17:47:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T17:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=2290"},"modified":"2026-05-19T17:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T17:47:18","slug":"major-nuclear-war-fears-as-putins-forces-move-hundreds-of-nuke-weapons-across-border","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=2290","title":{"rendered":"Major nuclear war fears as Putin&#8217;s forces move hundreds of nuke weapons across border"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_93f611\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Ukraine warned that Russia and Belarus had crossed a &#8216;red line&#8217; and called for &#8216;a firm, consolidated response&#8217; from Europe and America following the nuclear exercise<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">17:04, 19 May 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 17:35, 19 May 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37178037\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"intercontinental ballistic missile system drives through Red Square in Moscow\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178037.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178037.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178037.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178037.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ukraine have called for a 'consolidated response' to the nuclear tests\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ukraine have called for a &#8216;consolidated response&#8217; to the nuclear tests<cite aria-label=\"Image: AFP via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ukraine have accused Vladimir Putin of committing &#8220;nuclear blackmail&#8221; after Russia combined with allies Belarus to perform a terrifying display of their military might.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The <a aria-label=\"furious responseLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/news\/weird-news\/putin-could-toppled-60s-style-37156553\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">furious response<\/a> followed an announcement yesterday (May 18) by Belarus that their military had successfully trialled &#8220;the delivery of<a aria-label=\" nuclear munitionsLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/gallery\/wild-putin-speech-despot-tells-37175245\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\"> nuclear munitions<\/a> and their preparation for use . . . &#8220;in coordination with <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/latest\/russia\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Russia<\/a>&#8220;, as well as the &#8220;concealment&#8221; of weapons and their &#8220;movement over significant distances&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Ministry of Defence explained via the social media site Telegram that &#8220;exercises for military units on the combat deployment of nuclear weapons and nuclear support have begun. The aim of the exercises is to improve the level of personnel training, verify the readiness of weapons, military and special equipment for task execution, and organise combat deployment from unplanned areas.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37178038\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37178038\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.78\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ballistic missile launch from underwater at sunset 3d illustration\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178038.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_Ballistic-missile-launch-from-underwater-at-sunset.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178038.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/2_Ballistic-missile-launch-from-underwater-at-sunset.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178038.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/2_Ballistic-missile-launch-from-underwater-at-sunset.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178038.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_Ballistic-missile-launch-from-underwater-at-sunset.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Russia have had nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus  since 2023\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Russia have had nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus  since 2023<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">These latest displays of nuclear strength appear to show a further escalation in military aggression, and were immediately slammed by <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/latest\/ukraine\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A statement from the country&#8217;s foreign ministry read: &#8220;The militarisation of Belarus not only undermines trust in international law but also firmly cements Minsk as an accomplice in Russian nuclear blackmail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The audacity of Moscow and Minsk, which have deliberately crossed all . . . &#8216;red lines&#8217;, cannot be left without a firm, consolidated response and systemic deterrence of both . . . the Euro-Atlantic community and the wider world.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37178040\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37178040\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The nuclear warheads of a ballistic missile are aimed upwards for a nuclear strike. army weapons.  the threat of a weapon.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178040.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_The-nuclear-warheads-of-a-ballistic-missile-are-aimed-upwards-for-a-nuclear-strike.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178040.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_The-nuclear-warheads-of-a-ballistic-missile-are-aimed-upwards-for-a-nuclear-strike.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178040.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_The-nuclear-warheads-of-a-ballistic-missile-are-aimed-upwards-for-a-nuclear-strike.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178040.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_The-nuclear-warheads-of-a-ballistic-missile-are-aimed-upwards-for-a-nuclear-strike.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ukraine said the exercise 'crossed the red line' \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ukraine said the exercise &#8216;crossed the red line&#8217; <cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The statement went on to call for an &#8220;increase in sanctions&#8221; on both Russia and Belarus in order to help Ukraine in their on-going war.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A Foreign Office spokesperson said: &#8220;an effective response to the Russian-Belarusian sabre-rattling near NATO borders must include a sharp increase in sanctions pressure on Moscow and Minsk.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">They also called for &#8221; the reinforcement of the Allied presence on NATO&#8217;s eastern flank, and deeper security cooperation with Ukraine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37178039\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37178039\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.64\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Russia's Victory Day parade\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178039.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Russians-Celebrate-Victory-Day-In-Moscow.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178039.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Russians-Celebrate-Victory-Day-In-Moscow.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178039.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Russians-Celebrate-Victory-Day-In-Moscow.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37178039.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Russians-Celebrate-Victory-Day-In-Moscow.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The tests came one month after Russia's Victory Day parade\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The tests came one month after Russia&#8217;s Victory Day parade<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite the suggestion from Ukraine that the military exercises were meant to be provocative, Belarus remain adamant that this was not the case, stating that the tests were &#8220;not directed against third countries and pose no threat to security in the region&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Russia has a long history of using Belarus as a location to store nuclear warheads, both before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">During the Cold War, Soviet Belarus hosted nuclear missile bases as part of the USSR\u2019s military system. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Belarus inherited these nuclear weapons but agreed to give them up under international arms-control deals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">By 1996, all warheads had been removed and returned to Russia, making Belarus the first former Soviet republic to voluntarily abandon its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees from major powers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, Russia have begun stationing nuclear weapons within the borders of Belarus again since 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our <\/em><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>newsletters<\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ukraine warned that Russia and Belarus had crossed a &#8216;red line&#8217; and called for &#8216;a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL.jpg",1200,675,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-768x432.jpg",640,360,true],"large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-1024x576.jpg",640,360,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL.jpg",1200,675,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL.jpg",1200,675,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-1115x675.jpg",1115,675,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-PARADE-REHEARSAL-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?cat=7\" rel=\"category\">Stories<\/a>","tag_info":"Stories","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2290"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2290\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}