August 12, Pozirk. Zapad-2025, a Belarusian-Russian large-scale military exercise, will take place from September 12 to 16, Valeryj Ravienka of Belarus’ defense ministry has told reporters.
The drill will focus on military security of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and test readiness to respond to aggression, he noted.
Belarus sought to assure its western neighbors that the joint drill with Russia poses no threat by moving the exercise inland, Security Council chief Alaksandar Valfovič said last week.
In late May, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin announced that Zapad-2025 would be scaled down and relocated farther from the borders. Later, Alaksandar Łukašenka said the move was designed to reduce tension.
In February 2022, Moscow used a similar exercise in Belarus as a cover for a troop buildup ahead of its invasion of Kyiv. Ukrainian intelligence and border forces plan to closely monitor troop movements during the upcoming drill.
