Belarus: Missile Deactivation and Warhead Transfer
See also the ICBM Tables file. For information on Belarusian
comments concerning the possible redeployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus
please see the Attititudes Towards Nuclear
Weapons file.
4/16/98: RUSSIAN DUMA COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS REJECTION
OF WITHDRAWAL ACCORD Citing the necessity to strengthen the union between
Russia and Belarus and to "safeguard collective security under conditions
of the eastward expansion of NATO," the Russian State Duma CIS Affairs
Committee recommended rejection of the Russia-Belarus Intergovernmental
Accord on Russian strategic troop withdrawal from Belarus on 16 April 1998.
The recommendation was effectively moot, as the troops were withdrawn in
June 1997 (see entry for 6/30/97 below).
[Decision of RF State Duma CIS Affairs
Committee on draft legislation "O ratifikatsii Soglasheniya mezhdu Pravitelstvom
Rossiyskoy Federatsii i Pravitelstvom Respubliki Belarus o poryadke vyvoda
voinskikh formirovaniy Rossiyskoy Federatsii iz sostava Strategicheskikh
sil, vremenno razmeshchennykh na territorii Respubliki Belarus, na territoriyu
Rossiyskoy Federatsii," 16 April 1998.] {Entered 7/28/98 FW}
9/26/97: RUSSIAN DUMA DELAYS TROOP WITHDRAWAL
RATIFICATION The Russian State Duma postponed debate on a draft
law on the ratification of the Russia-Belarus Intergovernmental Accord
on Russian strategic troop withdrawal from Belarus. According to
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Toporov, Russia legalized the
accord without Duma ratification in 1995 because Russia could no longer
maintain Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) troops in Belarus.[1] The
last troops were withdrawn in June 1997.[2] Duma CIS Affairs Committee
Chairman Georgiy Tikhonov argued for delaying ratification since the accord
had "grown obsolete in moral and political aspects" since its signing.
Tikhonov based his opposition on the changed situation brought about by
the new Russian-Belarusian Union Treaty and NATO's eastward expansion.
Duma Chairman Gennadiy Seleznev announced that theDuma protocol ratifiying
the agreement should clearly indicate that agreements should not be enacted
before being ratified.[1]
[1] Robert Serebrennikov, ITAR-TASS,
26 September 1997; in "Duma Postpones Belarus Strategic Withdrawal Ratification,"
FBIS-UMA-97-269. [2] "Russian Missile Troops Out of
Belarus," Jamestown Monitor, 1 July 1997. {entered 3/13/98
djw}
6/30/97: LAST RUSSIAN STRATEGIC TROOPS LEAVE
BELARUS Russian President Boris Yeltsin's press spokesman
Sergey Yastrzhembskiy stated that the last unit of Russian Strategic Rocket
Forces has withdrawn from Belarus. Yeltsin had reportedly sent Belarusian
President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a letter expressing gratitude "to the fraternal
Belarusian people" for their hospitality toward the Russian troops.
["Russian Missile Troops Out of Belarus,"
Jamestown
Monitor, 1 July 1997.] {entered 3/13/98 djw}
11/23-27/96: NUCLEAR WARHEADS, MISSILES, WITHDRAWN FROM BELARUS On 23 November 1996 the last nuclear warheads were transferred from Belarus
to Russia, and on 27 November 1996 the last of the SS-25 ICBMs were shipped
to Russia.[1] The last act in the denuclearization of Belarus occurred
with surprising speed. Less than two weeks after Belarusian President Aleksandr
Lukashenka hinted that the withdrawal of the weapons would be delayed,
the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces announced that all nuclear warheads
had been removed.[2] The announcement led to some confusion, however, as
while all the warheads were out, some missiles remained in Belarus.[3,
4] It appears that the SS-25 missiles were removed in two batches. According
to Belarusian First Deputy Foreign Minister Valeryy Tsepkala, one group
of eight SS-25s was shipped to Russia in mid-November, apparently during
the week ending 22 November.[5] A second set of seven missiles was given
a ceremonial send-off on 27 November at a railroad base near the Lida ICBM
base.[6, 7] (This latter number is consistent with the number of missiles
present at the Lida base. The number given for the first shipment is one
less than the total number of missiles at the Mozyr base, but it is possible
that one missile was either shipped separately, or that Tsepkala erred.)
The departure ceremony was attended by Russian Defense Minister Igor Rodionov,
Russian Strategic Rocket Forces Commander Igor Sergeyev, and other military
and political officials. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka did
not attend, despite expectations that he would, because of political troubles
in Minsk. Rodionov reaffirmed Russia's commitment to ensure the security
of Belarus, in keeping with the terms of the CIS Collective Security Treaty
(Tashkent Treaty), but did not extend any further security guarantees.
[8]
[1]"Belarus Completes the Withdrawal of the Remaining Russian
Missiles," Press Release, Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the United
States of America, 11/27/9. [2] Interfax, 11/23/96, in "Last Russian Nuclear Warheads
Removed From Belarus," FBIS-SOV-96-228. [3] Moscow NTV, 11/24/96, in "Withdrawal of Missiles from
Belarus `Still Continuing,'" FBIS-SOV-96-232. [4] "Belarus gives up nukes, keeps missiles," WASHINGTON
TIMES, 11/26/96, p. 11. [5] Radio Riga, 11/22/96, in "Nuclear Weapons To Be Removed
to Russia," FBIS-SOV-96-228. [6] Valeriy Kovalev, "V Yevrope poyavilos' eshche odno bezyadernoye
gosudarstvo," KRASNAYA ZVEZDA, 11/29/96, p. 1. [7] Russian Public TV, 11/27/96, in "Rodionov Assures Belarus
of Support Against Threats," FBIS-SOV-96-231. [8] Aleksandr Zhilin, "'Topolya' uezhayut v Rossiyu," MOSKOVSKIYE
NOVOSTI, no. 48, 12/1-8/96, p. 8. {Entered JL 1/8/97}
11/13/96: LUKASHENKA CASTS DOUBT ON MISSILE TRANSFER Once again confusing the issue of missile withdrawal, Belarusian
President Aleksandr Lukashenka indicated in a speech to the Russian State
Duma that he might link the withdrawal of the remaining missiles to a NATO
pledge not to deploy nuclear weapons in any new NATO member states. Lukashenka
was not very clear on the point, however, stating that: "...Westerners
try to persuade me that nuclear weapons ought long since to have been removed
from Belarus, and the sooner the better. I ask: Why are you in a hurry?
Why should we do this? And certain Russian servicemen tell me that today
nuclear weapons in Belarus are harmful because the flight time [to them
from NATO countries] is very short. Then I ask: But why do the NATO commanders
not think in these terms? Why are they moving nuclear weapons up and are
prepared to site them nearby? It doesn't add up, somehow, there is no logic..."
Lukashenka went on to add that "[Belarus and Russia] must together seek
an appropriate response [to NATO expansion], as the saying goes. Lest the
withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Belarus' territory coincides with the
siting of nuclear missiles and munitions on the territory of the new NATO
members." According to RIA-Novosti, Lukashenka's comments on the linkage
of withdrawal to NATO expansion were echoed by Aleksandr Shokhin, First
Deputy Speaker of the Duma, and a member of the Russia is Our Home faction.
Shokhin agreed that there was no need for haste in withdrawing the missiles,
and stated that the withdrawal must be "synchronized with NATO's extension
to the east." Interfax cited Lukashenka as stating that there were "slightly
over a dozen" missiles still in Belarus and that Belarus "might demand
from the West guarantees that it would not locate nuclear weapons near
Belarusian borders." After a meeting between President Yeltsin's chief
of staff, Anatoliy Chubays, and Lukashenka, an aide for Chubays told Interfax
that Chubays had stressed the need to implement the Russian-Belarusian
agreement on missile withdrawal.
["Alyaksandr Lukashenka: You Cannot Build Happiness on
the Betrayal of Your Brothers," SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA, 11/14/96, pp. 1-2,
in "Lukashenka Addresses Russian State Duma," FBIS-SOV-96-221; Anna Kozyreva,
"Byelorussian President Addresses the Russian Parliament," RIA-Novosti,
11/13/96; INTERFAX, 11/13/96, in "Lukashenka: `Slightly Over a Dozen' Nuclear
weapons Yet To Be Removed," FBIS-SOV-96-220; INTERFAX, 11/13/96, in "Chubays,
Belarusian President Support Further Integration," FBIS-SOV-96-221.] {Entered
11/19/96 JL}
11/1/96: BELARUSIAN GOVERNMENT AGAIN CONFIRMS MISSILE
WITHDRAWAL SCHEDULE On 1 November 1996 the Belarusian government issued an official
statement reiterating its position that, "the remaining 18 SS-25 ICBMs
will have been withdrawn by the end of the current year." The statement
was prompted by a Council of Europe resolution expressing concern over
the status of the withdrawal process.
["Belarus Honors its Non-Nuclear Commitment," Press Release,
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the United States of America, 11/1/1996;
Interfax, 10/31/96, in "Belarus to Hand Over Strategic Nuclear Missiles
as Planned," FBIS-SOV-96-213.] {Entered 11/9/96 JL}
10/22/96: BELARUSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON MILITARY BASES,
WITHDRAWAL In an interview with a Belapan correspondent, Belarusian
Defense Minister Leanid Maltsaw (Leonid Maltsev) stated that he was "categorically
opposed to any talk of Belarus failing to fulfill its side of the Russian-Belarusian
agreement on the withdrawal of the remaining Russian strategic troops."
Maltsaw confirmed that the troops and SS-25 missiles were to leave Belarus
by the end of 1996. Maltsaw did note, however, that there were still problems
concerning the disposition of the former missile bases, and social guarantees
for servicemen. He expressed his hope that these problems would be solved
before the bilateral agreement expires.
[Belapan, 10/22/96, "Belarus: Defense Minister Denies
breach of Troop Withdrawal Accord," FBIS-SOV-96-206.] {Entered 11/3/96
JL.}
9/13/96: LEBED VISITS BELARUS, CONFIRMS MISSILE WITHDRAWAL
SCHEDULE During a brief visit to Belarus, the Secretary of the Russian
Security Council, Aleksandr Lebed, met with Belarusian President Aleksandr
Lukashenka and the Secretary of State of the Belarusian Security Council,
Viktar Sheyman. Commenting on Lebed's meeting with Sheyman, Lebed's spokesman
told Belapan that, "the parties agreed that there would be no obstacles
which could hamper the normal implementation of the agreement [to withdraw
the missiles in 1996]." In an interview with ITAR-TASS, Lebed confirmed
that he had discussed the issue with Lukashenka and that they agreed that
the SS-25 ICBMs would be withdrawn by the end of 1996.
[Belapan, 9/16/96, in "Belarus: Withdrawal of Strategic
Missile Forces Discussed With Lebed," FBIS-SOV-96-181; ITAR-TASS, 9/17/96,
in "Russia: Lebed, Lukashenka Discuss Withdrawal of Missiles," FBIS-SOV-96-182.]
{Entered 04/18/97 JL}
9/7/96: LEBED, LUKASHENKA, RODIONOV DISCUSS MISSILE WITHDRAWAL During a whirlwind weekend visit to Moscow, Belarusian President
Aleksandr Lukashenka met with the Secretary of the Russian Security Council,
Aleksandr Lebed, and the Russian Defense Minister, Igor Rodionov, to discuss
the withdrawal of the SS-25 ICBMs from Belarus. According to an ITAR-TASS
report, based on Security Council sources, the two sides concluded that
"the issue requires further work." A report in the newspaper Segodnya,
however, suggested that Lukashenka had not actually visited Moscow, but
had simply invented the story in order to bolster his position in Belarus.
[ITAR-TASS, 9/9/96, in "Russia: Lebed, Lukashenka, Discuss
Withdrawal of Rocket Units," FBIS-SOV-96-176; Leonid Velekhov, "Alyaksandr
Lukashenka Visited Moscow Incognito. No Eyewitnesses of the Mysterious
Visit Could Be Found," SEGODNYA, 9/10/96, p. 1, in "Belarus: Reasons for
Lukashenka's Snap Visit to Moscow Assessed," FBIS-SOV-96-176; OMRI DAILY
DIGEST, Part 2, 9/10/96. ] {Entered 11/3/96 JL}
7/3/96:LUKASHENKA AIDE CONFIRMS WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE,
DEMANDS COMPENSATION In a press conference held on July 3, 1996, Presidential
aide Sergey Posokhov (Syarhet Posakhaw) confirmed that the transfer of
SS-25s to Russia had been suspended, but also stated that no missiles would
remain in Belarus by the end of 1996. Posokhov stated that Russia should
compensate Belarus for the fissile material contained in the nuclear warheads.
A week earlier, in an interview published in Vo Slavu Rodiny, the
Belarusian military newspaper, Posokhov had observed, "This [keeping the
missiles] is another example of bluffing. Those missiles are nor part of
the combat readiness system, and their practical use is out of the question.
The only reason why they are still on our territory is that the Russian
side must pay us for them. As good school students, we have made good on
all of our nuclear commitments, emerging in fact as losers. On the other
hand, Ukraine, which violated such obligations, is reaping profits from
this." Posokhov was apparently referring to Ukraine's delay in ratifying
the START I treaty, which eventually resulted in the Trilateral Statement
that provided compensation to Ukraine for the fissile materials withdrawn
to Russia.
[Interfax-zapad, 7/3/96; "We Are Concerned About NATO's
Eastward Expansion," Vo slavu Rodiny, 6/28/96, p. 1, in "Belarus: Lukashenka
Aide on NATO Expansion," FBIS-SOV-96-128.] {Entered 11/3/96 JL}
6/27/96: BELARUSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMS MISSILE
TRANSFER BY END OF 1996 Speaking at a press conference, the Belarusian Foreign Minister,
Uladzimir Syanko (Vladimir Senko), stated that in agreement with the bilateral
Belarusian-Russian agreement, the last SS-25 missile would leave Belarus
by the end of 1996.
[Interfax, 6/27/96.] {Entered 11/2/96 JL}
6/18/96: BELARUS HINTS AT DELAYING WITHDRAWAL TO END OF
1997 In an interview with the Belarusian paper Svaboda,
First Deputy Foreign Minister Valeryy Tsepkala tied the removal of the
SS-25s ICBMs from Belarus to the issues of NATO expansion and the creation
of a nuclear-weapon-free zone (NWFZ). Responding to an interviewer's query
concerning Russia's interest in the rapid withdrawal of the missiles, Tsepkala
replied, "The former Belarusian Supreme Soviet chairman [Stanislau Shushkevich]
and prime minister said that the missiles should be withdrawn by the end
of 1996. However, the realistic written schedule envisions that they will
be withdrawn by the end of 1997." Tsepkala also said the Belarusian Foreign
Minister had not received any diplomatic note from Russia concerning the
withdrawal of the missiles. A Belapan report on Tsepkala's interview noted
that this was the first mention of the end of 1997 as the completion date
for the withdrawal, and indicated that it did not correspond with any known
agreements or schedules. An official of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry
told Belapan that, "On the whole the schedule is being observed," but did
not indicate which schedule he meant.
["After We Remove Missiles Out of the Country Today,
We Will Never Bring Them Back," SVABODA, 6/18/96, p. 2, in "Belarus: Tsepkala's
Comments on Missile Withdrawal," FBIS-SOV-96-120; "Belarus Officials Cited
on Deadlines for Nuclear Weapons Withdrawal," BELAPAN, 6/19/96, in FBIS-SOV-96-119.]
{Entered 11/2/96 JL}
6/13/96: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS NO DELAY IN MISSILE
TRANSFER The Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, Mikhail Khvostov,
stated that there were no reasons for delaying compliance with the agreement
on missile withdrawal and that all missiles would be transferred to Russia
by the end of 1996, in accordance with the established schedule.
["Belarus: Minister Says No Disruption in Nuclear Withdrawal
Program," INTERFAX, 6/13/96, in FBIS-SOV-96-116, 6/13/96.] {Entered 11/2/96
JL}
6/7/96:BELARUSIAN SUPREME SOVIET RATIFIES AGREEMENT
ON SRF IN BELARUS The Belarusian parliament ratified an agreement with Russia
on unspecified issues related to the stationing of Russian strategic forces
on Belarusian territory. Russia reportedly handed over to Belarus 150 temporary
barracks which are environmentally clean and radiation free.
[Ustina Markus, "More Nuclear Disarmament Funds Promised
For Belarus," OMRI DAILY DIGEST, 6/10/96.]
6/4/96:BELARUSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON MISSILE
TRANSFER In an interview with Interfax published on June 4, 1996,
Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev (Maltsaw) disputed the Russian military's
claim that the timetable for warhead and missile transfer from Belarus
had been disrupted. Maltsev stated that the missiles would be transferred
to Russia by the end of December, 1996, in keeping with the accepted schedule.
["More Senior Officials Signal Differences With Lukashenko,"
THE MONITOR, 6/5/96; "Belarus Says Nuclear Arms Withdrawal Schedule To
Be Observed," Interfax, 6/4/96, in FBIS-TAC-96-008, 6/4/96.] {Revised 11/2/96
JL}
6/4/96:RUSSIAN SRF ON DELAYS,
TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL The Chief of Staff of Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF),
Colonel General Viktor Yesin, stated that Belarus was disrupting the timetable
for the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Belarus. According to Yesin,
a document signed in December 1995 by the Russian and Belarusian defense
ministers specified that all nuclear warheads would be transferred to Russia
by May 1996, and all strategic forces (including missiles) would be transferred
by August 31, 1996.
["Official Says Belarus Has Disrupted Nuclear Withdrawal,"
INTERFAX, 6/5/96, in FBIS-TAC-96-008, 6/5/96; "Belarus Criticized By Moscow
On Missiles," THE MONITOR, 6/4/96; INTERFAX, 6/4/96, in "Belarus: Minsk
Reaffirms Nuclear Arms Withdrawal Schedule, FBIS-SOV-96-108, 6/4/96.] {Revised
11/2/96, JL}
4/20/96: YELTSIN ON WARHEAD REMOVAL TIMETABLE At the G-7 nuclear safety summit in Moscow, Russian President
Boris Yeltsin pledged that all nuclear warheads in Ukraine and Belarus
would be transferred to Russia by 12/96.
[Scott Parrish, "Yeltsin To Request Relocation Of Western
Nukes," OMRI DAILY DIGEST, 4/11/96.]
4/11/96:BELARUSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON SS-25s Belarusian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev (Maltsaw) was
quoted as saying that he did not believe it would be necessary to suspend
the withdrawal of the 18 SS-25s on Belarusian territory.
["Presidential Bulletin," INTERFAX, 4/11/96 in FBIS-SOV-96-072,
"Belarus: Defense Minister Discusses Russian Missiles, Army's Future,"
4/11/96.]
1/14/96:SRF COMMANDER ON DENUCLEARIZATION TIMETABLE According to the Commander in Chief of the Russian Strategic
Rocket forces, Colonel General Igor Sergeyev, all nuclear warheads will
be removed from Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan by 9/96. Military units
controlling missiles in Belarus are to be withdrawn by 9/1/96. Other sources
report that Sergeyev announced that the warheads would be withdrawn in
the first half of the year. However, during the week of 1/8/96 Belarusian
President Aleksandr Lukashenka stated that he did not recognize Belarus'
1993 pledge to become a non-nuclear state. He indicated that Belarus may
not send the remaining 18 SS-25s to Russia. He reportedly said that he
hopes to use the missiles as a bargaining chip to secure CTR funds.
["Russia Says Republics To Give Up Nukes," UNITED PRESS
INTERNATIONAL, 1/14/96; INTELNEWS, 1/16/96.]
12/28/95:STATUS REPORT ON MISSILE TRANSFERS, BASE
CLOSINGS The Lida, Mozyr, Bykhov, and Kletsk Bases, which all
house strategic missile forces, are in the process of being closed. SS-25s
are currently located at the Lida and Mozyr bases. The Postavy Base and
the Ruzhany settlement, which both housed strategic missile forces, are
currently closed. The airforce testing ground "Dubno" and the Bobruisk
22nd Russian airforce division are also closed.
[CISNP Communications with Belarusian expert, 12/28/95.]
12/9/95: DELAYS IN BELARUS MISSILE TRANSFER The missile withdrawal timetable was set back a few months
when the Russian and Belarusian Defense Ministers met in Minsk and signed
a new schedule for the withdrawal of the remaining two regiments of the
Russian Strategic Rocket Forces from Belarus. The agreement called for
the withdrawal of nuclear warheads from Belarus by 5/96 and the withdrawal
of all strategic rocket forces from Belarus to Russia by 8/31/96. Some analysts feel that Belarus has been a "testing
ground" for Russia. Belarus' attempts to manipulate arms control obligations
in response to NATO enlargement can be seen as an extension of Russian
policy.
[CISNP Communications with Belarusian expert, 12/28/95;
INTERFAX, 6/5/96, in "Belarus: Official Says Belarus Has Disrupted Nuclear
Withdrawal," FBIS-SOV-96-110, 6/5/96.].]
11/1/95:REPORT ON SRF TROOPS WITHDRAWN FROM BELARUS Security Council deputy Yuriy Sivakov said that the 18 missiles
remaining in Lida and Mozyr would be withdrawn by the end of 1995, but
that the process was being hindered by a lack of funding and effective
MPC&A measures. The Belarusian Security Council will issue permits
for the departing Russian troops only when it has been confirmed that the
bases have been left in good order. Troops have already left Orsha and
Postavy, but there are still troops left in Bobrusk.
[CISNP Discussions with Yuriy Sivakov, 10/95.]
10/6/95:FOREIGN MINISTER ON RUSSIAN WITHDRAWAL Foreign Minister Uladzimir Syanko stated that the withdrawal
of Russian nuclear forces from the territory of Belarus is being implemented
according to the Belarusian-Russian Agreement, which states that nuclear
weapons will be withdrawn from Belarusian territory by the end of 1996.
The Belarusian side has hindered the withdrawal so that Russia "would abide
by the terms for the troops withdrawal."
[MOSCOW MAYAK RADIO NEWS, 10/6/95; in "Foreign Minister
on Integration, Nuclear Withdrawal," FBIS-SOV-95-194, 10/6/95.]
9/27/95: RUSSIA WAITING FOR RESUMPTION OF WARHEAD SHIPMENTS According to Vladimir Verkhovtsev, a representative of the
Russian Armed Forces General Staff, the shipping of nuclear warheads from
Belarus to the Russian Federation will soon be continued. Verkhovtsev says
that Russia has the technical equipment necessary for their transportation
and is waiting for a political decision from Belarus.
["Yadernoe oruzhie iz Belorussii vyvezut prinyatiya politichekogo
resheniya," SEGODNYA, 9/27/95, p. 1.]
8/5/95: BELARUSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES HALT IN MISSILE
TRANSFER According to a Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman, the
withdrawal of the remaining 18 SS-25 strategic nuclear missiles was never
halted. However, a slower transfer is in order because Russia has not met
the withdrawal agreement, which calls for, among other things, providing
for the elimination of environmental hazards. Russian troops have been
leaving the Belarusian bases in an ecologically unacceptable condition.
Andrei Sannikov, the Deputy Foreign Minister, said the 1996 deadline agreed
upon by Russia and Belarus for withdrawal of all 18 missiles may be extended.
The formal deadline for complete withdrawal according to the Lisbon protocol
is 2001. Failure to remove the warheads would place Belarus in violation
of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
["Handover of Nuclear Missiles to Russia Never Halted,"
INTERFAX, 8/5/95; Yuriy Drakakhurst, "Conflict by Consent," BELARUSSKAYA
DELOVAYA GAZETA, 8/3/95; Yuriy Drakakhrust, "Game of Preference at a Testing
Range," BELARUSSKAYA DELOVAYA GAZETA, 8/17/95, p. 1; Ustina Markus, "Belarusian
Disarmament Update," OMRI DAILY REPORT, vol. 1, no. 152, p. 5; Umit Enginsoy,
"Belarus Holds Russian Nukes," DEFENSE NEWS, 8/21/95, pp. 1, 28.]
7/24/95:LUKASHENKA ON MISSILE TRANSFER HALT When explaining the government's decision to curtail the
withdrawal of nuclear weapons, President Lukashenka was reported to have
said, "The Belarusian leadership cannot do charity at the cost of the interests
of the Belarusian people." Belarus would not carry the burden of the arms
race. He also said that the cost of delivering strategic armaments to Russia
was nearly $400 million, which is nearly equal to the Belarusian debt for
energy supplies. Russia thus far has not provided "a single kopeck" of
compensation for the strategic weapons.
["Lukashenka on Suspending Withdrawal of Nuclear Weapons,"
INTERFAX, 7/24/95.]
7/6/95: LUKASHENKA ORDERS HALT TO SS-25 MISSILE TRANSFER On the orders of President Alexander Lukashenka, the Belarusian
military has halted the withdrawal of SS-25 ICBMs and associated warheads
to Russia. These orders prevent Russian trains from entering the country
to remove the remaining launchers. In 2/95, most border controls had been
removed when Lukashenka signed an agreement with Russian President Yeltsin,
establishing a customs union between the two states. The remaining 18 ICBMs
were scheduled to have been withdrawn by the end of 7/95. An article in
IZVESTIYA reported that Lukashenka issued the order since he felt the decision
to withdraw the weapons was a "political mistake" made by the previous
leadership. He also reportedly stated that as Belarus is likely to unite
with Russia anyway, it did not make sense to mindlessly ship military equipment
to and fro. The article also insinuated there were financial considerations
behind Lukashenka's decision. A senior Belarusian official reportedly said
that the reason for the suspension of weapon withdrawal was that the Russian
military left behind severely environmentally damaged sites. However, both
the Belarusian official and Colonel General Igor Sergeyev, Russian Commander-in-Chief
of the Strategic Rocket Forces, said that they expected all strategic forces
to be withdrawn from Belarus by the end of 1995. In February, Lukashenka
halted reductions in conventional military equipment, which Belarus is
obliged to liquidate under the CFE Treaty.
[Viktor Litovkin, "President Lukashenka Has Suspended
The Withdrawal Of The Russian Strategic Forces From Belarus," IZVESTIYA,
7/6/95, pp. 1-2; Aleksandr Korzhun, Igor Porshnev, Yevgeniy Terekhov, "Diplomatic
Panorama," INTERFAX (Moscow), 7/10/95; in FBIS-SOV-95-132, "Official On
Withdrawal Of Russian Strategic Units," 7/10/95; "Belarus Suspends CFE-Required
Weapons Reductions," ARMS CONTROL TODAY, 4/95, p. 19; "Belarus Suspends
START-1 Withdrawals," NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION NEWS, 8/7/95, p. 6.]
11/94: BELARUS MILITARY REPORTEDLY OPPOSES MISSILE TRANSFER It was reported that the Belarusian top military command
has been complaining that Belarus relinquished its nuclear weapons too
easily. According to the reports, there are individuals who feel that Belarus
received less compensation for its weapons than if it had held out longer.
["Non-Nuclear Thorns In The Way Of Non-Nuclear Status,"
NEWS FROM UKRAINE, No. 39-40, 11/94, p. 3.]
5/26/95:SRF CHIEF OF STAFF YESIN ON CONTROL OF
SS-25S According to the Chief of Staff of Russia's Strategic Rocket
Forces Colonel General Viktor Yesin, Russia maintains control over 18 SS-25
ICBMs on Belarusian territory. The warheads from these missiles will be
withdrawn to Russia by the end of 1995. 63 SS-25 ICBMs have been already
been withdrawn to Russia.
[Doug Clarke, "Missile Chief Updates Weapons In Near
Abroad," OMRI DAILY DIGEST, 5/29/95; Viktor Litovkin, "President Lukashenka
Has Suspended The Withdrawal Of The Russian Strategic Forces From Belarus,"
IZVESTIYA, 7/6/95, pp. 1-2.]
4/95: BELARUS WARHEAD TRANSFER PROGRESS 45 strategic warheads have been removed from SS-25 ICBM missiles
and withdrawn to Russia. The remaining 36 SS-25s were scheduled to be withdrawn
to Russia by the middle of 6/95. [Another source states that the remaining
SS-25s would be withdrawn by 7/25/95.] 18 of them are located near the
city of Lida, and another 18 in Mozyr. One military official noted that
while the withdrawal of the missiles and warheads would be complete by
mid-1995, the rest of the missile division equipment would not be withdrawn
until the end of the year.
["News Briefs: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine START I cuts,"
ARMS CONTROL TODAY, 4/95; YADERNYY KONTROL', 4/95, p. 7, Information Section;
"Belarus Topols To Go," FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 4/26/95, p. 16; and Doug
Clark, OMRI DAILY DIGEST, No. 54, Part II, 3/16/95.]
9/94: CIA REPORT ON SS-25 TRANSFER PROGRESS According to an unclassified CIA report, a total of 45 SS-25
ICBMs have been withdrawn from Belarus to Russia. This leaves Belarus with
36 SS-25s. Prior to 1993 there were 81 SS-25s on Belarusian territory.
["Nuclear Weapons Deactivations Continue In FSU," ARMS
CONTROL TODAY, 11/94, p. 33.]
5/18/94: SS-25S TRANSFERRED TO RUSSIA According to the Ministry of Defense, Belarus shipped its
first trainload of SS-25 missiles from a station near the city of Slutsk
to Russia for redeployment. Up to 36 missiles are scheduled to be withdrawn
to Russia by the end of 1994. All remaining SS-25s are scheduled to be
withdrawn by the end of 1995. Earlier press accounts quote the Ministry
of Defense as saying that 27 SS-25s were redeployed to Russia by the end
of 12/93.
[PPNN, Second Quarter 1994, p. 16; "Belarus Ships First
Strategic Missiles to Russia," Reuter, 5/20/94,; and ITAR-TASS (Moscow),
5/18/94; in "Russia Withdraws Strategic Units From Belarus," FBIS-SOV-94-096,
5/18/94, p. 8.] (The discrepancy can perhaps be accounted for as follows:
The 27 SS-25s redeployed to Russia in 1993 may have been the same 27 which
were deployed to Belarus by Russia subsequent to 1990. This latest shipment
may have been the first of the 54 SS-25s which were on Belarusian territory
at the time of the 9/90 START I MOU.)
3/94:TIMETABLE FOR TRANSFER OF MISSILES TO RUSSIA The Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) are being removed
from Belarus. The SRF consisted of two divisions stationed in Mozyr and
Lida (eight rocket regiments), which were equipped with the SS-25 (RS-12)
Topol mobile ICBM. The first regiment of 9 missiles, based in Postavy,
was withdrawn to Russia during summer 1993. According to a Press Release
from the Embassy of Belarus, four more regiments will leave Belarus in
1994, with the remaining regiments to return to Russia in 1995. By mid-1996,
the Mozyr and the Lida rocket divisions will be completely disbanded, in
accordance with the START I Treaty. After the removal of the SRF troops,
the missile bases will be under Belarusian control.
["Strategic Missiles Being Removed From Belarus," Press
Release from the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the United States
of America, 3/21/94.]
12/93: UPDATE ON MISSILE TRANSFER PROGRESS According to officials at the Belarusian Defense Ministry,
27 missiles were withdrawn by the end of 12/93, bringing the number of
SS-25s on Belarusian territory back down to 54 by 1994.
["CIS Strategic Forces," ARMS CONTROL TODAY, 5/94, p.
26; and Paris AFP, 12/22/93, in "Twenty-Seven Belarusian SS-25 Missiles
To Be Dismantled in Russia," JPRS-TND-93-003, 1/31/94, p. 18.]
6/92: INITIAL ESTIMATE ON BELARUSIAN DENUCLEARIZATION
TIMETABLE Belarus estimated that it would take seven years to fully
rid itself of nuclear weapons.
[FBIS-SOV-92-116, 6/16/92, p. 2.]
