He revealed that the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons is currently underway
According to Russian Sputnik News Agency on September 7, Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, said that the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus was proceeding as planned.
Riyabkov said, "The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is proceeding according to the timetable outlined by Russian President Putin. Now, several stages of establishing corresponding infrastructure or vehicle equipment have been completed there. We are continuing this work."
According to reports, Riyabkov also stated at the "Strengthening Nuclear Non Proliferation Regime" seminar held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, that openly using force against Russia is dangerous and is a test of armed conflict among nuclear powers.
Riyabkov said, "NATO member states are betting on relentless harmful expansion and direct military and political conquest within Russia's important interest zones. 'Forced response actions'... are being used by our opponents as an excuse to openly exert military pressure on Russia, and now this pressure is dangerously being tested on the edge of armed conflict among nuclear powers."
Russian media previously reported that Russian President Putin announced on March 25th that Moscow and Minsk have decided to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus due to the UK's announcement of providing depleted uranium bombs to Ukraine. Putin stated that Russia has helped Belarus modify a batch of aircraft, and the Iskander missile system has been delivered to Minsk. On June 16th, Putin revealed that Russia has deployed the first batch of nuclear warheads to Belarus and will complete the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons by the end of the year.