Russia and Belarus made plans for many years on Friday Joint military exercises Thousands of troops that have raised concerns in the West are involved.
The exercise, called “Zapad 2025,” will be held in Belarus and Russia, and will continue until Tuesday. They aim to demonstrate the close defense between Moscow and Minsk, and the power of Russian military forces fighting a three-and-a-half year war in neighboring Ukraine.
The pilot continues on Wednesday Russian drone invasion Earlier this week, it promoted long-standing fears that Ukrainian hostility could spark wider conflict in Polish airspace. The Russian army said it hadn’t targeted Poland, and Belarus suggested that the drone was off course, but European leaders described it as a deliberate provocation, forcing NATO allies to stand up potential threats in the airspace for the first time.
The Russia-Belarus exercise is also attracting concerns for Kiev and its western allies, including Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which border Belarus. When Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops rolling into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, many of them crossed from Belarus after a joint drill a few days before the attack.
Belarusian defense officers Initially, a unit of about 13,000 people said. Participates in a movement that takes place near the western border. But in May, the defense ministry said that numbers would be cut in almost half and major operations would occur more deeply within the country.
In Moscow, the Ministry of Defense said on Friday that some of the movement will be held on Russian territory, as well as the Baltic and Barents seas.
Last month, Defense Minister Victor Krenin said that most of the drills will occur around the town of Valusau, about 74km (46 miles) northeast of Minsk, but some “small units will perform practical tasks to repel virtual enemies in areas near the border between Poland and Lithuania.”
Krenin pointed out that the military practices “planning the use of” Russian nuclear weapons and the new nuclear factor-capable Oleshnik intermediate range missile that Moscow promised to be stationed in Belarus.
In December, Russia and Belarus signed an agreement that granted security assurances to Moscow’s allies, including the possibility of the use of Russian nuclear weapons to repel attacks.
Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko Allow Russia to deploy some of it Tactical nuclear weapons In his country. Lukashenko also suggests hosting the latest in Russia Oreshnik Intermediate Ballistic Missile Moscow was first used against Ukraine in November.
Putin said that Oleshnik missiles could be deployed to Belarus in the second half of 2025, adding that they are under Russian control, but Moscow will allow Minsk to select his target.
Belarus also sent formal invitations to all member states of European security cooperation agencies and nine countries with NATO military attachments to Minsk to monitor drills.
Lukashenko ruled Belarus Iron hands for over 30 years, Recently, his willingness to repair relations with the West has been severely tense for years at opposition and his brutal crackdown on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Last year, there was a public call for regular release of political prisoners and reconciliation with the West. Last month, Lukashenko spoke to Trump on the phone. Trump called him “a highly respected president” in his social media post.
Thursday, Belarus Freed 52 political prisoners As part of a transaction mediated by the US, it lifted sanctions on the country’s airlines.
