Belarus, which hosts Russian nuclear weapons, said on Monday it was conducting training in their use. "The aim of the exercise is to improve the personnel's level of training, to test the Airborne Forces' readiness to carry out their tasks, and to organize combat operations from unplanned areas," the defense ministry said in a statement. It said the training was not directed against any other state and did not pose security threats in the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear that Moscow retains control of nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus.
