US diplomat monitors Zapad-2025 drill in Minsk region

September 15, Pozirk. Diplomats from Hungary, Turkey and the United States are observing the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 exercise at the 227th training ground in the Minsk region’s Barysaŭ today, the defense ministry’s press office reports.

They are part of a 23-nation observer group, it said.

The US military attaché reportedly thanked Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin for the invitation, while the latter promised that “the American guests would be given the best seats and shown absolutely everything that interests them.”

The official made this remark amid Minsk’s growing contacts with Washington, which included a recent meeting between Alaksandar Łukašenka and John Coale, US deputy special envoy to Ukraine.

Moscow launched the joint military exercise Zapad-2025 in Belarus, Russia as well as in the waters of the Baltic and Barents Seas on September 12. The drill, expected to last until September 16, prompted Belarus’ neighbors to take unprecedented security measures, including the closure of the Polish-Belarusian border.

On the first day of the exercises, Chrenin stressed that the maneuvers are taking place “at a considerable distance from the southern and western borders” and were not directed “against any specific country or countries.”

Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have declined invitations to observe the Zapad-2025 exercise, Alaksandar Valfovič, state secretary of the Security Council, said on September 12.

The previous Zapad drills, held several months before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, involved about 200,000 troops in total. Russian forces stationed in Belarus at that time later took part in the invasion of Ukraine.

This year’s exercise is smaller in scale, according to Lithuanian military intelligence chief Mindaugas Mazonas, and may involve up to 30,000 troops across both countries. In Belarus, around 8,000 personnel are said to be taking part, including up to 2,000 Russians. Minsk has not disclosed official figures.

Part of the exercise will take place in the waters of the Baltic and Barents Seas, the Russian defense ministry has announced.

According to Moscow, the first stage focuses on repelling aggression against the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The second stage will involve the command and control of troops, including coalition forces from allied states, with the stated goal of securing territorial integrity and defeating the enemy.

The Belarusian defense ministry described the drill as “a planned event preceded by a series of preparatory maneuvers on the territory of both countries.” It emphasized that the Belarusian segment of Zapad-2025 is defensive in nature and is being conducted at training grounds in the country’s interior and eastern regions.

The exercise, running from September 12 to 16, is expected to include training for officers in planning nuclear and ballistic missile strikes, officials said earlier. It will also focus on air defense, defensive ground operations and tactical aviation support.

The maneuvers—along with Russian drone incursions earlier this week—have prompted neighboring countries and NATO to strengthen security measures. Poland has closed its border with Belarus and plans to deploy up to 40,000 additional troops to its eastern flank in the coming days.

Lithuania has not closed its border but has announced measures to reinforce security. Latvia, meanwhile, is conducting Namejs 2025, involving about 12,000 Latvian and allied troops, including units from Estonia. Lithuania has begun Perkūno Griausmas, with some 17,000 Lithuanian and NATO personnel. Poland is carrying out Iron Defender-25, its largest strategic exercise of the year, involving around 34,000 Polish and allied soldiers and more than 600 pieces of military equipment.

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