Belarus says it has launched joint drills with Russia to practice the use of nuclear weapons that Moscow has deployed on the territory of its neighbor and ally.

Trucks carrying intercontinental ballistic missiles rumbled over forest roads, submarines set sail from Arctic and Pacific ports, and crews scrambled into warplanes as Russia and neighboring Belarus held the final stage of their joint nuclear drills.

Strong reactions from Ukraine and NATO allies as Belarusian and Russian forces train to use nuclear weapons.

Russia and Belarus concluded major joint nuclear drills involving missiles, submarines and warplanes as Moscow intensified nuclear messaging amid rising Ukrainian drone attacks and growing tensions with NATO countries.

Russia and Belarus have triggered concern with a mammoth nuclear weapon exercise on NATO’s doorstep. Belarus, a staunch Russian ally, announced the start of the drills yesterday focused on Russian nuclear weapons.

Russia and Belarus conducted joint nuclear exercises on Monday as Kyiv warned Moscow was preparing a new offensive from Belarusian territory against Ukraine or NATO.

Russia and Belarus have conducted major joint nuclear exercises featuring ballistic and hypersonic missile launches. Footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry showed an Iskander-M ballistic missile launch from the Astrakhan region and a Zircon hypersonic missile launch from the Barents Sea.

Moscow and Minsk hold strategic nuclear drills with the two countries' leaders participating via video conference.

FILE - A truck of Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile launchers moves to a firing position as part of Russian military drill, June 12, 2024

A series of long-range Ukrainian attacks hit targets deep inside Russia on Wednesday, part of Kyiv's efforts to raise the costs of the war for the Kremlin by striking energy facilities and military industries.