Poland announces NATO military drills in response to Russian-Belarusian Zapad exercises

Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk announced the move, as reported by TVN24, saying the response will match the scale of the Russian and Belarusian drills.

“This will be a response proportional to the involvement of Russian and Belarusian troops. We must show strength and unity,” Tomczyk said.

He added that the exercises will take place in Poland and involve NATO allies.

“This is something extraordinary. Russia is launching three powerful attacks on Ukraine, mostly targeting Kyiv. It looks like Russia is escalating the conflict. The war might break out again very soon,” he said. He added that previous Russian military exercises in Belarus actually ended with an invasion of Ukraine.

• On October 23, 2024, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced the joint Zapad 2025 exercises with Russia. 
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is “preparing something” in Belarus this summer, hiding it as military exercises.
• Later reports said that during the joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 exercises, the military plans to practice strikes using tactical nuclear weapons and Oreshnik.