CNN —The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has “no reason to doubt” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Russia has moved a first batch of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, senior DIA officials said on Friday.
It is not clear how much of that arsenal Putin intends to move, and US and Western officials have not publicly confirmed that any weapons have been transferred to Belarus.
But the senior DIA officials told a small group of reporters Friday that analysts have “no reason to doubt” Putin’s claims, and no reason to doubt “that they have had some success” in transferring the weapons.
But the senior DIA officials said they do not believe Lukashenko would have any control over the arsenal.
It would most likely be entirely controlled by Russia, the officials said.
Persons:
Vladimir Putin’s, Putin, ” Putin’s, Ben Wallace, ”, Putin “, Wallace, Matthew Miller, “, Aleksander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Miller
Organizations:
CNN, The Defense Intelligence Agency, St ., Economic, Federation of American Scientists, British, State Department, Nuclear Weapons, ”, Russian
Locations:
Russian, Russia, Belarus, St, St . Petersburg, Soviet