Russia and Belarus are conducting missile training exercises
Headline: Zapad 2025: A Review of the Recent Russia-Belarus Military Exercise
The Russia-Belarus military exercise, Zapad 2025, took place in September, involving a significant number of troops and various training grounds. According to Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, approximately 6,000 Belarusian soldiers and 1,000 Russian soldiers participated in the exercise. Western military experts, however, estimate that around 30,000 soldiers participated, with around 8,000 coming from Russia.
One of the key events during Zapad 2025 was the planning and testing of the deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons. Among the significant exercises was the deployment and testing of the mobile missile complex Oreschnik, a newly developed Russian intermediate-range missile. The Oreschnik was first tested and deployed during Zapad 2025, although no details about its testing and deployment were provided.
The incident involving Russian drones in Polish airspace was considered by NATO as a provocation and a test of defense capabilities on the eastern flank. A large number of Russian drones entered Polish airspace before the start of Zapad 2025, and some were shot down by NATO fighter jets.
In response to the escalating conflict between Russia and the West, Poland has kept its border with Belarus closed. The Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, is pushing for the nuclear-capable missile Oreschnik to also be stationed in his country. However, no launches of the Oreschnik missile have been reported since November 2024.
Russia maintains tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. In a recent development, Russia has fired the newly developed Oreschnik without warheads at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro since November 2024. This action has further escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
On the other hand, NATO forces are currently exercising in Poland and the Baltic countries. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated that NATO forces held serious exercises in Lithuania, with 17,000 soldiers, and in Poland, with 40,000 soldiers, significantly outnumbering the forces on the other side of the border.
Belarusian Chief of Staff Pavel Muraveiko announced that all tasks set for Zapad 2025 have been completed. Despite the smaller scale of Zapad 2025 compared to the exercise in 2021, which Russia used to prepare for the invasion of Ukraine, the exercise serves as a reminder of the ongoing tension between Russia and the West.
Zapad 2025 included training grounds in Belarus and Russia, as well as the Baltic and polar Barents Seas. The exercise was conducted amidst concerns about Russia's military activities near its borders and its potential threats to regional stability. The conclusion of Zapad 2025 marks a significant event in the ongoing geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe.
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