31 March 2023 , 12:57
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Belarusian President and Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko has said a nuclear World War 3 is looming on the horizon due to NATO's support for Ukraine.
The dictator claimed, without providing any evidence, that the collective West is planning to invade Belarus to "destroy it."
Lukashenko said the West's decision to send tanks, missiles and artillery to Ukraine has meant the world is closer than ever to a nuclear apocalypse.
He said in a televised address: "'As a result of the efforts of the United States and its satellites, a full-scale war has been unleashed in Ukraine. A third world war with nuclear fires looms on the horizon."
In a ranting speech, Lukashenko warned that if Putin feared his forces were about to be defeated by Ukraine, he would be forced to unleash its nuclear weapons.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (AP)He continued: "It is impossible to defeat a nuclear power. If the Russian leadership understands that the situation threatens to cause Russia's disintegration, it will use the most terrible weapon. This cannot be allowed."
In a scheduled address to the nation, Lukashenko said the West was building up its military forces in Poland, on Belarus' borders. He said "take my word for it, they are preparing to invade, to destroy our country."
He continued: "'We must stop now, before an escalation begins. I'll take the risk of suggesting an end of hostilities... a declaration of a truce."
Lukashenko unfounded claims came just days after he announced he was forced to host Russian nuclear weapons due to "unprecedented" Western pressure.
A Yars missile launcher of the Russian armed forces (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Putin said on Saturday that Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, its first deployment of nuclear armaments outside its borders since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Minsk said the missiles would offer protection after what it called a campaign of pressure from the United States and its allies aimed at overthrowing Lukashenko.
Belarus said it would not have control over the weapons but warned the UK it will "see a fearful response" that will be a "lesson for the whole planet" if Britain sends depleted uranium tank munitions to Ukraine.
Damaged buildings in Mariupol, Ukraine (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Meanwhile, at least nine Russian missiles were fired over Kharkiv in Ukraine late yesterday, Governor Oleh Sinegubov said on Telegram.
He wrote: "A civil infrastructure object and private residential buildings were damaged in Kharkiv. Some of the rockets hit the ground and exploded in the air.
“As a result of the rocket attack, three people received minor injuries. Hospitalisation was not required.”
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The governor said two men were injured and hospitalised due to an attack on “critical infrastructure facilities in Izyum”.