Russia and Belarus have commenced a significant joint military exercise, designated “Zapad-2025,” on Friday, situated on NATO’s borders and involving drills across both nations and in the Baltic and Barents seas.
This exercise, described as a demonstration of force by Russia and its ally, is taking place amidst heightened tensions related to the Russia-Ukraine war, occurring just two days after Poland, with NATO support, downed suspected Russian drones over its territory.
The “Zapad” exercise, scheduled prior to the drone incident for which Russia denied responsibility, aims to enhance the skills of commanders and staffs and improve the cooperation and field training of regional and coalition troop groupings. The initial phase of the drills involves troops simulating the repulsion of an attack on Russia and Belarus, who are allied under the Union State.
The subsequent stage focuses on restoring the Union State’s territorial integrity and defeating an adversary, potentially with contributions from allied forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the drills, including those near the Polish border, are not directed against any other country. The drone incident over Poland was interpreted in the West as a critical alert for NATO and a test of its response capabilities, with Western nations accusing Russia of deliberate provocation, a claim Moscow denies.
A Russian diplomat in Poland suggested the drones originated from Ukraine, while Russia’s Defence Ministry indicated its drones attacked targets in western Ukraine but did not intend to hit Polish targets. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the drone incursion into Poland could have been a mistake. Even prior to the drone incident, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had characterized the “Zapad” maneuvers as “very aggressive” and announced Poland’s closure of its border with Belarus. Belarus also shares borders with NATO members Lithuania and Latvia, with Lithuania stating it was fortifying its border due to the military exercise.
with information from Reuters