Russia Deploys Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belalous, Strengthens Checks on the West

There is a growing view that the Russian side is losing momentum in Bakhmut, a fierce battle zone in Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine, where the Russian military is aiming to seize. Under these circumstances, President Putin has announced a policy of deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which is an ally, and is strengthening his restraint on the Western side, which is strengthening military support to Ukraine.

Regarding the situation in Bakhmut, a fierce battle zone in Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are aiming to seize, a spokesman for the Eastern Area Unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces revealed on the 26th that the number of attacks by Russia has decreased for the past two days.

The American think tank "War Research Institute" also pointed out on the 2th that "the Russian army continues to attack Bakhmut and its surroundings, but only a small advance can be seen in the city," and there is a view that the momentum of the Russian attack is being lost.

Against this backdrop, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his intention to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, an ally of Russia, and announced that a facility to store nuclear weapons in Belarus will be built by July 26.

In addition, Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council, a close aide to President Putin, responded to an interview with Russian media released on the 7th, saying, "NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a party to this conflict, and it does not even try to hide the purpose of defeating and dismantling Russia on the battlefield." Russia is stepping up its restraint on the Western side, which is strengthening its military support to Ukraine.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned President Putin's remarks as "a new provocation by the criminal Putin regime" on the 1th, and a NATO spokesman also criticized them from Ukraine and the West, saying that they were "dangerous and irresponsible claims."

Expert: "President Putin risks deepening dependence on nuclear cards"

Yuyuki Hasegawa, a researcher at the National Institute for Defense Studies at the Ministry of Defense who is familiar with Russian security, commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that he would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying, "This is a new phase in which the nuclear card has been played in a way that involves other countries. Isn't this a message to Russia that it is strengthening its military capabilities?"

He also stated that the Russian side is unlikely to use tactical nuclear weapons at this time, and that the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will not bring about a major change in the war situation.

On top of that, Hasegawa said, "The Russian side is considerably inferior in conventional weapons such as tanks compared to NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Western countries, and President Putin will continue to rely on the use of nuclear cards, and there is a risk that he will deepen his dependence in the future," and that the Russian side is expected to continue to show off its nuclear forces and threaten them. He pointed out that it is necessary to ascertain the intention.