Belarus kicks off joint Zapad-2025 drills with Russia, raising NATO concerns

The state Belarusian agency BELTA reported the information.

The exercises will run until September 16 and will take place at training grounds in both Belarus and Russia.

“The purpose of the exercises is to practice joint actions of Belarusian and Russian troops to ensure military security and readiness to repel possible aggression,” the report states.

Key training aspects focus on improving command and staff skills in managing troops during aggression, enhancing coordination between command bodies and field training of servicemen, as well as practicing joint actions to neutralize threats and stabilize the situation along the borders.

Zapad-2025 is a planned event, preceded by a series of preparatory maneuvers in both countries.

Despite taking place at training grounds located deep within Belarus and in its eastern regions, the exercises keep NATO on high alert.

• Poland, after the attack of Russian UAVs, is deploying 40,000 of its servicemen to the borders with Russia and Belarus: this is happening ahead of the start of the Zapad-2025 exercises.
• On September 11, Polish authorities imposed air traffic restrictions in eastern Poland, along the borders with Belarus and Ukraine.
• Latvia closed its airspace over the eastern border with Russia and Belarus starting September 11, following an armed forces risk assessment.