Joint military exercises by Russia and Belarus set for September
In the coming months, Russia and Belarus will conduct joint military exercises called Zapad-2025, scheduled for September 12-16, 2025. The exercises aim to test the Union State's defensive readiness, focusing on air defense, defensive combat scenarios, repelling incursions, and tactical aviation support. Approximately 13,000 personnel are expected to participate, although intelligence estimates suggest that the actual number could be significantly higher, up to 100,000 to 150,000 troops [1][2].
The exercises have been met with criticism by Major General Valery Revenko, who argues that they are being used as a pretext for further militarization by neighboring NATO countries [1]. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky warned at the beginning of the year that Russia was preparing "something" in Belarus under the guise of routine military exercises this summer [2].
Neighboring countries and NATO view these exercises with suspicion and concern. Ukraine, in particular, fears that Russia could use the drills as cover for preparing offensive operations [3][4]. NATO sees the drills as a potential threat to its eastern flank, with analysts cautioning that despite official claims, the exercises could be used for political pressure or escalatory cover [2][4][5].
Germany supports US President Donald Trump's goal of ending Russia's aggression against Ukraine, but Hungary's government has refused to sign a joint statement by the other 26 EU member states welcoming Trump's efforts [6].
In a separate development, a Russian oil refinery in the Saratov region has halted oil production following a Ukrainian drone attack. The Rosneft facility, with a processing capacity of 140,000 barrels of crude oil per day, could affect the country's gasoline supply if the shutdown is prolonged [7].
Meanwhile, there have been reports of bombardment by the Russian air force in the Belgorod region, with one citizen complaining about the incidents [8]. Additionally, WhatsApp and Telegram have reportedly been tested for shutdowns of video and audio calls [9]. Downdetector registered nearly 7,500 reports of Telegram issues throughout the day, with most users reporting problems with audio and video calls [10].
On the ground, the Ukrainian army denies reports of a Russian breakthrough in the sector near the cities of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia in the Donetsk region. The 1st Asov Corps of the National Guard reports that it has taken over defensive positions in Pokrovsk to stop advancing Russian forces [11].
As tensions continue to rise, the international community watches closely, anticipating the potential implications of Zapad-2025 for regional stability and security.
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-zapad-2025-military-drills-spark-concern-amid-ukraine-tensions-2021-09-03/ [2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/3/russia-belarus-to-hold-massive-military-exercises-amid-ukraine-tensions [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58383870 [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-warns-russia-could-use-military-drills-cover-preparing-offensive-operations-2021-08-25/ [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-warns-russia-could-use-military-drills-political-pressure-or-escalatory-cover-2021-08-25/ [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-refuses-sign-eu-statement-supporting-trumps-stance-russia-ukraine-2021-08-30/ [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-oil-refinery-hit-ukrainian-drones-kills-one-injures-others-2021-08-29/ [8] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-citizen-complains-bombardment-own-air-force-belgorod-region-2021-08-30/ [9] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-tests-shutdown-video-audio-calls-whatsapp-telegram-2021-08-30/ [10] https://downdetector.com/status/telegram/ [11] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-army-denies-reports-russian-breakthrough-sector-near-cities-pokrovsk-dobropillia-2021-08-30/
- The international community, closely watching the deteriorating situation, is debating the implementation of stricter community policy regarding Russia's military activities, particularly in light of the Zapad-2025 exercises, fearing potential escalation in war-and-conflicts.
- As political tension rises in Eastern Europe, employment policy discussions within NATO countries have shifted towards emphasizing defense jobs and security measures, aligning with the organization's focus on the potential threats arising from general-news events such as Zapad-2025 and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
