Possible provocative actions by Russia during military drills in Belarus are not ruled out by Ukraine.
Title: Ukrainian Border Guards Brace for Potential Moves as Belarus Holds Downsized Zapad-2025 Exercises
Ukrainian border guards remain vigilant, as Belarus prepares for the downsized Zapad-2025 drills—shifting the activities more towards the country's central regions. While the reduced scale of these military exercises has pledged to demonstrate readiness for dialogue with NATO, the Ukraine border forces stay cautious.
According to Colonel Andrey Demchenko of the State Border Guard Service, the country continues to monitor the preparations of both Russia and Belarus for these large-scale exercises. Despite the preliminary information indicating activities might be moved deeper into Belarus, causing minor concerns, there are no reports of active Russian groups posing a direct threat to Ukraine at this point.
Border patrols are gearing up for any potential developments, with the priority being to stay informed about the exercises' active phase, as an increase in risk for the nation cannot be ruled out. However, contemplating provocative actions near the border remains the main task for the border guards, striving to be ready for all scenarios.
Understanding the current situation, Ukraine is fortifying its northern frontier, bracing for possible "demonstrative actions" in the exercise's active phase, expected to take place in September.
Meanwhile, the downsized Zapad-2025 drills are expected to involve approximately 13,000 Belarusian troops, with an unspecified number of Russian forces joining the exercises. This number—though lower compared to previous years—is still raising concern due to the ongoing tension in the region and the history of the 2022 invasion that was launched, partly, from Belarusian territory.
In summary, while the Zapad-2025 exercises maintain a lower scale and move away from the borders, the shift is aimed at reducing regional tension, but is still viewed with scrutiny from both Ukraine and NATO due to the ongoing conflict and regional security concerns. Keeping a close eye on developments remains essential to ensuring regional stability.
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[1] Charter 97[2] New Voice[3] Kyiv Post[4] Al Jazeera[5] The Washington Post
The Ukrainian border guards remain cautious as they monitor the downsized Zapad-2025 military exercises, with politics and general news focusing on potential escalations and regional security concerns. The ongoing tension in the region, stemming from the history of wars and conflicts, leaves the border guards ready for any provocative actions near the border.
