Emerging
May 26, 20261
Belarus says it and Russia will defend Union State with all available means
Belarusian security chief Alexander Volfovich said Belarus and Russia would defend the Union State with all available means while insisting they pose no threat to others. He pointed to Russian tactical nuclear weapons, Oreshnik missile systems and a nuclear force exercise as evidence of stronger deterrence.
The remarks were delivered at a CSTO security meeting in Moscow and presented the deployments as defensive measures in response to possible aggression.
Quick Facts
- Said Belarus and Russia would defend the Union State with all available means
- Stated that Belarus and Russia pose no threat to anyone
- Said Russian tactical nuclear weapons and Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus have strengthened strategic deterrence
- Said a nuclear force training exercise confirmed the capability would be used in case of aggression
- Alexander Volfovich
Belarusian State Security Council Secretary Alexander Volfovich said on May 26 that Belarus and Russia do not threaten anyone, but will defend the territory of the Union State with all available means. He made the remarks during a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s Committee of Security Council Secretaries in Moscow.
Volfovich said President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had both said their countries pose no threat to others. At the same time, he said the two allies would use all available resources to defend themselves if necessary.
He also said the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons and Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus had strengthened strategic deterrence within the Union State. According to Volfovich, a nuclear force training exercise led by the two presidents showed that the capability exists and would be used in the event of aggression against the Union State to protect national interests.
The comments come amid continued tensions between Belarus, Russia and Western countries over security and military posture in the region. Volfovich framed the deployments as defensive measures aimed at deterrence rather than threats to other states.
Why This Matters
This signals that Minsk and Moscow are continuing to deepen their military coordination and are publicly framing it as deterrence, not escalation. For readers tracking regional security, the remarks matter because they reinforce the likelihood of a sustained military buildup, increase rhetorical pressure on NATO’s eastern flank, and may affect risk assessments for sanctions, border security, and defense planning in Eastern Europe.
Timeline & Sources
May 26, 2026
WireTASS published remarks by Alexander Volfovich on Union State defense and deterrence.