Russia, Belarus Launch "Zapad-2025" Military Exercises

On September 12, the joint strategic exercises of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, "Zapad-2025," began. These exercises are the final stage of the joint training of the armed forces of the two countries this year. The objectives of the exercise are to improve the skills of commanders and staffs, the level of interaction and field training of regional and coalition groupings of troops in solving joint tasks of maintaining peace, protecting interests, and ensuring military security.

During the exercises, it is planned to work out the issues of command and control of inter-service, regional, and coalition groupings of troops in localizing aggression against the Union State, various options for joint actions to neutralize threats on its borders and stabilize the situation.

In the first stage of the joint strategic exercises, issues of command and control of formations and military units will be worked out in repelling aggression against the Union State, organizing interaction, and all types of support in the interests of fulfilling the planned tasks.

The main content of the second stage will be the command and control of troops and forces in restoring the territorial integrity of the Union State, defeating the enemy, including with the participation of a coalition grouping of troops of friendly states.

To work out joint actions as part of the coalition forces, operational groups of military command and control bodies and contingents of troops of the CSTO, the SCO, and other partner states have been invited to the exercise.

The practical actions of the troops will take place at the training grounds on the territory of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, as well as in the waters of the Baltic and Barents Seas.

It is recalled that, according to earlier information, the scenario of the use of nuclear weapons is also planned to be played out during these exercises.

It is also recalled that the European countries bordering them have reacted nervously to the fact that such large-scale Russian-Belarusian exercises are being held at the walls of Europe. For this reason, Poland has already closed its borders with Russia and Belarus and has announced that it is sending about 40,000 troops to the border areas to exclude possible provocations.