Zapad-2025 Military Drills: A Show of Strength Amid Heightened NATO Tensions

Russia and Belarus commenced joint military exercises on Friday, marking the first Zapad drills since Moscow initiated its large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Zapad-2025 exercises, scheduled to continue until September 16, aim to evaluate the two nations’ preparedness to fend off enemy assaults, reclaim lost territory, and protect the borders of their proclaimed Union State, as stated by the Russian and Belarusian Defense Ministries.

According to Russia, the drills will unfold in two phases: the first will concentrate on defense strategies and coordination, while the second will focus on recovering lost ground and overpowering enemy troops. The exercises are taking place in training ranges across Belarus and Russia, as well as in the Baltic and Barents Seas.

Belarus characterized the drills as defensive in nature and limited to its eastern regions. Officials in Minsk had initially stated that approximately 13,000 troops would participate, but later revised this number to about half, a significant decrease from the 200,000 involved in the Zapad-2021 exercises.

Moscow has reportedly invited observers from defense and economic organizations led by Russia and China to monitor the exercises.

The drills come amidst escalating tensions along NATO’s eastern border, with Poland accusing Russia this week of intentionally sending drones into its airspace. Following this incursion, Poland and NATO scrambled fighter jets to intercept the drones, marking the first instance in which the Western military alliance has targeted Russian outputs since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov informed the media on Thursday that the Zapad-2025 exercises had been pre-planned and were not aimed at «any third country.»

«This is a continuation of military collaboration and coordination practice between two strategic allies. We will persist on this path, which is no secret to anyone,” Peskov remarked.

The exercises are also taking place in the context of Russia’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Minsk announced that the drills would include Russia’s new experimental nuclear-capable missile, known as Oreshnik, along with nuclear strike exercises.

A video released by Russia’s Defense Ministry to mark the beginning of Zapad-2025 showcased military units in various scenarios, featuring armored vehicles navigating forested routes, attack helicopters and bombers in flight, as well as naval ships and a submarine at sea.

In anticipation of the exercises, Poland closed its border with Belarus on Thursday, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk describing the drills as “very aggressive.” Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania have imposed airspace restrictions near their borders with Russia and Belarus.

In August and earlier this month, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania conducted their own military drills, which analysts noted were deliberately scheduled to coincide with Zapad-2025. Approximately 30,000 Polish and allied troops participated in Poland’s exercises, named Iron Defender 2025.