At the height of tensions in Europe, Russia and Belarus kicked off their long-planned Zapad-2025 joint military drills on Friday, staging exercises on both sides of their border and in the Baltic and Barents seas.
The announcement by the Russian Defense Ministry comes just two days after Poland, backed by its NATO allies, shot down suspected Russian drones over its airspace — an incident Moscow denies planning or executing.
Drill Objectives and Scenarios
The ministry said the first phase of the drills will simulate repelling an attack against the Union State of Russia and Belarus. In the second stage, forces from partner states will practice restoring the Union State's territorial integrity and neutralizing enemy threats.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Zapad-2025 is not aimed at any specific country, despite the exercises' proximity to NATO's eastern flank.
Regional Reactions
Poland responded to the drone incursion by closing its border with Belarus on Thursday. Lithuania and Latvia, also bordering Belarus, have ramped up border security in light of the drills.
In a surprising twist, a senior Russian diplomat in Poland claimed the drones originated from Ukrainian territory, while Moscow's Defense Ministry said its drones struck targets in western Ukraine but had no intention of breaching Polish airspace.
Even former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, calling the drone incursion a possible mistake and urging an end to the standoff.
As Zapad-2025 unfolds, NATO members and neighboring states watch closely, acutely aware that these maneuvers could signal shifts in regional security dynamics.
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Russia and Belarus start drills near NATO border after drone incursion
cgtn.com
