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Russia and Belarus began the joint military “Zapad 2025”, on Friday September 12th, to show their military strength and show a large display of force along NATO’s eastern flank. Just days earlier, 20 Russian drones had violated Polish Airspace.
According to the Russian defence ministry, drills involving hypersonic weapons and simulated nuclear attacks are being conducted in both countries, as well as the Baltic and Barents Seas. It’s the first time that Russia and NATO have conducted a joint exercise in anticipation of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine 2022. This could be the most heated moment since the fall of Berlin Wall between Russia, NATO and the United States.
Russian war games in Belarus bring military equipment closer to NATO borders
Belarus says the exercises are smaller, but Belarus estimates a larger number. The exercises focus on defense against a hypothetical NATO invasion followed by a reverse offensive. These drills near Poland include the nuclear Oreshnik, raising fears in Europe. General Carsten Bruer, the head of Germany’s military, stated that NATO is vigilant even though there are no immediate attacks being prepared. Jacek Siewiera a Polish security specialist warned, however, that the exercise may be a precursor to larger Russian operations this spring and could leave military equipment near NATO border.
After the recent Russian drone incursions, which saw four drones destroyed and others penetrate 275 km into Poland. Polish investigators claim that five drones were used to target a base crucial for Ukraine’s weapons shipments. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, dismissed the claims that a mistake had been made, saying on X: “We know it wasn’t.” Poland has invoked NATO’s Article 4 Consultations, forcing allies such as Spain, Latvia and the Netherlands, to summon Russian diplomats. The Czech Republic has deployed special forces and Germany has doubled its Eurofighter Typhoon squadron alerted for Poland.
Belarus plays down Russian building up as NATO builds up its defences along the border
NATO’s Frontline States, especially Poland and Latvia, have stepped up their defenses. Poland closed its Belarus border while Latvia closed the airspace on its frontier. Suwalki, a narrow corridor that connects Belarus to Russia’s Kaliningrad Exclave, has been a source of concern. Zapad drills in the past preceded Russia’s invasions into Georgia (2008) and Crimea (2014), which caused concerns about this year’s drills despite Belarus’s assurances that they would be transparent and smaller.
Belarus has invited NATO observers to observe the country and released 52 prisoners including an opposition journalist. NATO is also conducting its own Quadriga 2025 drills, which include Lithuania’s Thunder Strike, with 17,000 troops, and Germany’s supply route testing through the Suwalki gaps. The region is bracing for a possible escalation as tensions rise.
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