ISW explains Putin’s announcement that Russia is deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War. 

American analysts believe that Putin has conducted another information operation, saying that Russia will deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. 

Putin hinted that he was prompted by the UK's decision to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine. He rejected Western claims that such munitions are safe to use and do not contain radioactive components. 

"The announcement of the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus is irrelevant to the risk of escalation to nuclear war, which remains extremely low. Putin is attempting to exploit Western fears of nuclear escalation by deploying tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus… Putin likely chose to push these narratives now in hopes of diminishing Ukrainian morale and Western aid to diminish the effectiveness of a rumored pending Ukrainian counteroffensive," ISW believes.  

The experts emphasized that Russia has long had tactical nuclear weapons capable of hitting any target from its own territory. Therefore, ISW continues to assess that Putin is risk-averse and, despite repeated threats to use nuclear weapons, does not intend to carry them out.  

• On March 25, Vladimir Putin announced that a storage facility for Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would be completed by July 1.