New Nuclear Military Base Emerges in Belarus, Near Ukraine Border
In Osipovichi, Belarus, in the Mogilev region, a new military base is being constructed that is expected to house nuclear weapons, according to findings from "The New York Times." "Some of the recently built structures there have features that are unique to nuclear storage facilities at bases inside Russia," the report notes.
The facility is located about 200 kilometers north of the border with Ukraine, on the premises of a military warehouse near the city of Osipovichi.
Three 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 from the Federation of American Scientists, who analyzed this location, stated that the expansion of the nuclear capabilities in Belarus "appear designed to unnerve NATO’s easternmost member states, but will not give Russia a significant new military advantage in the region."
Nuclear weapons returned to Belarus
Nuclear warheads are typically stored close to military bases where such weapons are stationed. The alleged nuclear storage site shares its location with the Belarusian Iskander missile systems, which are capable of launching either nuclear or conventional warheads. Russia supplied Belarus with Iskander missiles in 2022.
William Moon, an independent consultant and former official of the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency, told "The Times" that the project to upgrade the base in Osipovichi, featuring triple fencing, a solo main entrance, and an emergency exit, mirrors the design of Russian nuclear warhead storage sites he has previously observed. Moon has collaborated with Russia on nuclear warhead security issues.
Osipovichi is part of nuclear history. As stated by "NYT," this location was likely used for atomic weapons storage during the Cold War. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, all nuclear weapons were removed from Belarus.
Tests with non-strategic nuclear weapons
On May 5, the Kremlin announced plans to conduct military exercises with soldiers stationed near Ukraine, testing the capability for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. The following day, the Belarusian Minister of Defense informed state media that "testing of the tactical missile system Iskander and other nuclear weapons delivery systems has begun."
