A significant military presence is being mobilized on NATO’s eastern side as Russia and Belarus initiate a large-scale joint military exercise.
Following the recent intrusion of drones that shook Europe, the “Zapad” or “West” 2025 drills are scheduled to occur in Russia and Belarus from Friday until Tuesday, September 16.
The drills will encompass Russian land areas along with portions of the Baltic and Barents seas, as announced by Moscow’s Defence Ministry. The military exercises will involve troops strategizing the potential use of nuclear weapons and the deployment of the new nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missiles that Russia plans to station in Belarus.
This development unfolds amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West, with Donald Trump expressing impatience towards Vladimir Putin and hinting at imposing severe sanctions due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, European leaders are wary that the recent drone incursion into Polish airspace by Russia could spark a broader conflict along the eastern border of the region. While some leaders view this as a deliberate provocation, Russian military sources claim the drones went off course, and Belarus suggests they were not targeting Poland.
The incident marked the first instance since the Russian invasion of Ukraine where NATO allies faced a potential threat in their airspace. Analysts speculate that the intrusion could have been a test of NATO’s preparedness for an air incursion ahead of the upcoming drills.
Security measures have been heightened in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, with Poland directing the complete closure of its border with Belarus during the military exercises.
There are concerns in Europe that the military maneuvers could serve as a prelude to a potential invasion, reminiscent of the substantial troop buildup in the 2021 exercise that preceded the Ukraine invasion.
Barriers and barbed wire have been erected on roads along the Polish border, as Prime Minister Donald Tusk deploys 40,000 troops to the region amid warnings of impending critical days. Tusk cautioned that Poland is closer to open conflict than at any point since World War II following the drone incursion.
The Zapad-2021 drills were used as a pretext for Russia to send 200,000 troops to the Ukrainian border before initiating the invasion. This time, Russian units are allegedly simulating an occupation of the Suwalki corridor, perceived as a vulnerability for NATO, according to Tusk.
Downplaying concerns this year, a Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the drills are planned exercises and not targeted against any specific entity.
The Russian defense ministry posted on Telegram that the drills aim to enhance commanders’ skills, cooperation levels, and field training for regional and coalition troop groupings.
Despite Peskov’s remarks, Polish President Tusk criticized the highly aggressive Zapad maneuvers and announced the closure of