Russia has delivered nuclear munitions to field storage facilities in Belarus as part of huge military exercises amid escalating tensions with the West over Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that the drills, taking place across Russia and Belarus, involve preparations linked to the Iskander-M tactical missile system, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The three-day exercise, which began on Tuesday, comes as Moscow continues to portray the war in Ukraine as a confrontation with NATO and Western powers. Russia's Defence Ministry said: 'As part of the nuclear forces exercise, nuclear munitions were delivered to the field storage facilities of the missile brigade's position area in the Republic of Belarus.'

Officials said missile units in Belarus were carrying out training exercises involving the receipt of special munitions for the mobile Iskander-M missile system, including loading the weapons onto launch vehicles and moving covertly to designated launch positions. 'The personnel of the missile unit of the Republic of Belarus are performing training-combat tasks for receiving special warheads for the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile complex, equipping the carrier missiles, and covertly advancing to the designated area to prepare for launches,' the Russian defence ministry added. The Belarus defence ministry said: 'After the missiles had been loaded onto the launchers, the transport and loading vehicles moved covertly to a new area. 'Once there, the missile unit carried out simulated missile launches at designated targets.'

Footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry showed a military truck driving through dense woodland during a thunderstorm before unloading an unidentified object. It was not immediately clear what was being unloaded. The Iskander-M missile system – known to NATO as the 'SS-26 Stone' – replaced the Soviet-era Scud missile and has a range of up to 500km. The guided missiles can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. Warplanes also 'simulated bombings with nuclear munitions against mock targets before returning to base. 'Russian forces practised bringing nuclear combat units to the highest alert state,' the Belarus defence ministry added.

Throughout the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly highlighted Russia’s nuclear capabilities in what Western officials have viewed as warnings against deeper support for Kyiv. The latest drills also come amid fresh tensions in the Baltic region. The Kremlin on Wednesday blasted remarks made by Lithuania's foreign minister after he suggested NATO needed to demonstrate its ability to strike Russia's heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave. Moscow said the comments were 'verging on insanity' after Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys argued the alliance must show it was capable of penetrating the territory. Kaliningrad is wedged between NATO members Lithuania and Poland and is home to around one million people. The territory serves as the headquarters of Russia's Baltic Fleet and is regarded as one of the country's most heavily militarised regions.

It comes as Moscow warned Britain against sending its reconnaissance aircraft to the Black Sea for regular patrols over international airspace. 'Get out of here, don't let anyone even come close,' the warning said. It followed a series of 'dangerous' flybys by a Russian Su-25 and Su-27 - once approaching to within 20ft of the nose of an RAF Rivet Joint aircraft. The British plane was unarmed, but the Russian aircraft were packed with missiles, according to Moscow sources. Kremlin propagandist-in-chief Vladimir Solovyov on state-controlled TV urged Britain to halt such Black Sea flights. 'The UK Ministry of Defence reported that last month two Russian fighter jets intercepted an unarmed RAF IC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft,' he said.

'[It was] over the Black Sea, conducting a routine flight in international airspace. And why fly it? Get out of here! 'Where's the Black Sea and where's Britain? What have you forgotten? Get out of here, don't let anyone even come close.' Russia sees such flights by NATO 'spy planes' as scoping targets for attack by Ukraine. Kyiv revealed that in one clinical strike this week, 65 Russian special forces cadets were 'eliminated' in a strike by its Unmanned Aerial Systems Forces. The cadets were training as drone operators in occupied Donetsk. The centre's chief call sign, 'Buryi', from the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, was also killed, said Ukrainian sources. A total of 11 strike drones with a combat load of 100kg hit the training facility, according to reports.