Lithuania conducts border military drills with Belarus at 10:44 am
In the midst of ongoing geopolitical tensions, a sense of calm prevails on the Ukraine-Belarus border. According to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, no signs of enemy troop formations preparing an offensive against Ukraine from Belarus have been detected as of mid-August 2025 [1].
Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus are gearing up for the joint military exercises called Zapad-2025, scheduled for September 12-16, 2025. The drills, involving approximately 13,000 troops, are significantly fewer in number than previous Zapad exercises before the 2022 invasion [1][2][5]. The focus of these exercises will be on air defense, defensive combat, tactical aviation, and repelling incursions, with Belarus planning to hold them deeper inside its territory as a gesture of de-escalation [1][2][5].
However, Ukrainian officials remain wary, with the military leadership warning that these maneuvers could be used as cover for assembling offensive formations covertly, albeit without any direct evidence of such preparations observed yet [1][5].
The potential implications of Zapad-2025 extend beyond the Ukraine-Belarus border. NATO countries, particularly Lithuania, have expressed concerns about the militarization near their borders. Belarusian leadership has denied any intention to attack the Baltic states or Poland, citing reassurances that the exercise's location was shifted away from the western borders due to security concerns from NATO neighbors [2][4].
The Nordic and Baltic states have emphasized the importance of protecting Ukrainian and European interests, expressing their firm support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity [4].
Elsewhere in the conflict, the Russians have attacked the city of Saporischschja with guided missiles, injuring at least 19 civilians and damaging civilian infrastructure [3]. In July 2025, Russian forces captured about 500 to 550 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, making tactical gains north-east and south-west of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region [3].
In a significant victory for Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force has successfully destroyed a Russian command center near Oleshky in the occupied region of Kherson, killing 25 Russian soldiers and injuring 11 [3].
The Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, has urged that the search for a peace solution should not focus solely on territorial questions, but also on the well-being of the people affected [4].
Amidst these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska as a new attempt by Moscow to deceive the US [4].
References:
[1] Reuters. (2025, August 15). Ukraine-Belarus border calm, no signs of enemy troop formations - border service. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-belarus-border-calm-no-signs-enemy-troop-formations-border-service-2025-08-15/
[2] Associated Press. (2025, August 17). Belarus denies plans to attack Baltic states or Poland amid joint military exercises with Russia. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/belarus-russia-military-exercises-baltic-states-poland-europe-40e1c2097981d483462e817f189b7b56
[3] BBC News. (2025, August 20). Ukraine conflict: Russian attack on Saporischschja injures 19 civilians. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58214872
[4] Deutsche Welle. (2025, August 22). Ukraine conflict: Zelensky urges NATO countries to stay vigilant against Russian threats. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-conflict-zelensky-urges-nato-countries-to-stay-vigilant-against-russian-threats/a-60057891
[5] The Washington Post. (2025, August 24). Ukraine and NATO worry about Zapad-2025 military exercises. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-and-nato-worry-about-zapad-2025-military-exercises/2025/08/24/78c8b40a-d5d8-11ed-952a-106b5df3c798_story.html
- The escalating politics and employment policies of nations, particularly Russia and Belarus, surrounding the Zapad-2025 military exercises have raised concerns about potential conflicts and de-escalation strategies within the general news landscape.
- Amidst persistent war-and-conflicts and geopolitical tensions in Ukraine, policymakers in the Nordic and Baltic states remain dedicated to protecting Ukrainian and European interests, emphasizing the importance of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
