Russia and Belarus Launch Joint Military Drills Amid Tensions

Russia and Belarus Launch Joint Military Drills Amid Tensions

Russia and its ally Belarus are set to begin major joint military drills on Friday, raising NATO’s alert just days after Poland accused Moscow of escalating tensions by sending attack drones across its airspace.

The "Zapad" exercises coincide with ongoing Russian operations along the Ukraine front line and intensifying airstrikes on Ukrainian cities.

NATO’s eastern members bordering Belarus – Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia – are on high alert. Belarus says the drills will take place near Borisov, east of the capital Minsk. Poland has ordered a full border closure with Belarus for the duration of the exercises.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the coming days as “critical” for his country, warning that Poland is closer to “open conflict” than at any time since World War II, following a scramble of NATO jets to intercept Russian drones on Wednesday.

Moscow has downplayed the alarm, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling the exercises “planned” and insisting they are not aimed at any country.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia’s actions are clearly “not defensive” and threaten not only Ukraine.

Usually held every four years, the 2025 iteration of Zapad is the first during the Ukraine conflict and runs until September 16. While Moscow deployed around 200,000 troops for similar exercises in 2021 ahead of its Ukraine offensive, this year’s drill is smaller due to the large number of troops already engaged in Ukraine.

Belarus initially announced 13,000 troops would participate, later reducing that figure by roughly half. Poland says the exercises simulate the occupation of the Suwalki corridor – a vulnerable stretch of land between Poland and Lithuania – which could be a first target in a potential Russian attack. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed such concerns as “utter nonsense.”

Despite assurances, Poland has closed border crossings and restricted air traffic along its eastern frontier. Lithuania and Latvia have also announced partial airspace closures.

The drills involve Russia’s experimental nuclear-capable missile, Oreshnik, and nuclear strike training, adding a new dimension to the exercises.

Moscow-based analyst Alexander Khramchikhin called the drills “just a show” with little special significance, noting similar exercises have been held annually with rotating locations and previously included nuclear simulations.

Conversely, military analyst Vassily Kashin described the drills as “both a demonstration and real combat training,” stressing the need to be prepared to defend Belarus. He added that rival drills by Russia and NATO in the same period are likely to continue, “just as during the Cold War.”