Will Russian Nuclear Weapons Be Placed In Lida?

There is an order to provide local troops with iodine-containing meals.

Maxim Pleshko, Director of the Ukrainian Center for Belarusian Communications (CBC), shared information with the Charter97.org website regarding changes in the diet of the 116th Air Force Base of the Belarusian Air Force, which is located in Lida. Based on the document, some additional meals are planned to be introduced for "handouts" – from milk up to sea kale. Before that, the current norms had been unchanged for 20 years.

"The request for another military base is a missing puzzle in the information previously voiced by Western partners: nuclear weapons will be deployed in Lida, which will be guarded by Belarusian troops. According to the results of the analysis conducted by the CBC team, taking into account data from reliable sources, we can say with confidence that the threat of the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail of the European Union is growing," the CBC experts believe.

Earlier, a document appeared at the disposal of special services, which provides for possible deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus near the borders with the EU. This was stated by the authoritative publication The Wall Street Journal, citing the Federation of American Scientists. The investigators say: the missiles are located in Lida. This town is literally 40 km from the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. The only group of the Belarusian Air Force equipped with SU-25 aircraft is also based there.

There was no confirmation of this information until today. The data published by the WSJ was based on OSINT, an open-source data analysis technology-based intelligence science. It is worth noting that the American newspaper has an almost impeccable reputation: they value their name, and, as a rule, double-check any, even the most reliable information.

"However, no specific evidence with photo and video facts was presented in the article. This gave reason to doubt the reliability of the WSJ data. Immediately after that, the analytical resource Belaruski Hayun, usually very restrained in its statements, harshly criticized it.

Belarusian investigators called the information from the American publication "clickbait without any evidence", adding that the world community was again in the dark about the real confirmed data on the delivery of nuclear weapons to Belarus

However, in this situation, some specifics can be explained. The Wall Street Journal has excellent contacts with quite specific bodies. Such an authoritative newspaper will never publish stuffing that does not have the slightest ground under it. Many remember how skeptical they were about the article in the German Bild – the very one where Putin's plan for an attack on Ukraine in February 2022 was voiced.

Information on this level is repeatedly checked. The price is too high. Intelligence services provide reputable media with information that they cannot provide directly for various reasons. The level of publications indicates their reliability," the CBC said.

The other day, the Center for Belarusian Communications received information about the request of the head of the Belarusian 116th Guards Assault Air Base. The document is addressed to the higher command.

Following the letter, the military unit asked to make changes to the Instruction on Food Supply of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus of 2004 in a short time.

In particular, to improve the quality of nutrition of a certain category of servicemen, the following will be additionally introduced into the diet:

– milk and fermented milk products;

– fresh fruits and jams

– additional portions of fish or fish products

– seaweed

– condensed milk

– cocoa

All changes must be approved by mid-February 2024.

"This list lacks only iodine-containing capsules and red wine – all other changes in the instructions are extremely reminiscent of the diet on nuclear submarines and in units of the radiation and chemical protection of the USSR.

Obviously, a request for iodine should come from the medical service.

As for the "Cabernet", the aviators should be a little offended..," concluded the CBC.

Reference: The Lida Aviation Regiment was formed in 1941. In July 2010, by combining the 116th Bomber and Reconnaissance Air Base and the 206th Assault Air Base, the 116th Guards Assault Air Base was formed with the preservation of all awards and honorary titles. The units have Su-25 attack aircraft, among others.

The fact that the new version of the nutrition document will come into force only in mid-February should not be misleading. Most likely, nuclear weapons are already on the territory of Belarus under the protection of Russian troops at one of the classified facilities. The airfield in Lida and missile storage sites are undergoing the last stage of preparation for the acceptance of strategic cargo. It is to this date that the document is tied.

However, why Lida? After all, it was only about the transfer of Iskander-M complexes with missiles in ordinary equipment to Belarus. This information was confirmed by Aliaksandr Lukashenka, speaking about the completion of the deployment of nuclear weapons in the country.

"Recall that earlier the Kremlin announced renovation of part of the Belarusian Su-25 aircraft with the technical ability to carry nuclear warheads. It is still unclear whether the territory of the airbase will be used only as a storage, or whether the Belarusian pilots will be given the "honorable" opportunity to pilot aircraft with nuclear weapons on their own. Today, both options cannot be ruled out. And they are all equally joyless for Belarus.

Apparently, the Kremlin still decided to go all-in. Belarus is being drawn into nuclear blackmail and as an ordinary "idiot" in a preference game. Lukashenka will not be able to influence Moscow's strategic decisions. If Russia decides to use missiles to intimidate NATO states, Belarus will be hit back.

And the fact that the developments can be rapid is obvious to everyone.

Ordinary Belarusians become hostages in this game. It seems that thanks to Lukashenka and Putin, Belarus may soon become one of the main targets of the retaliatory strike of the North Atlantic Alliance," the experts of the Ukrainian Center for Belarusian Communications summarized.