{"id":150682,"date":"2025-08-12T12:25:46","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T09:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/150682\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"defense-official-accuses-west-of-fueling-tensions-ahead-of-zapad-drill","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/150682\/","title":{"rendered":"Defense official accuses West of fueling tensions ahead of Zapad drill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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August 12, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Western countries, particularly NATO members bordering Belarus, have stepped up aggressive behaviour ahead of the Belarusian-Russian Zapad 2025 drill on September 12-16, Valeryj Ravienka of Belarus\u2019 defense ministry has told journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATO and its member states increased the number of exercises from six to ten in August and September, he said, citing the Iron Defender drill in Poland, scheduled for September, which reportedly will involve 34,000 servicemen and 600 units of military equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drill, set to take place in eastern Poland near the Belarusian border, will be significantly larger in scale than Zapad 2025, the official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuania deployed additional air defenses near the shared border with Belarus and amassed the Bundeswehr weapons and equipment delivered by rail as it prepares for another large-scale exercise, Ravienka noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius also rescheduled several exercises for August and September and increased the intensity of joint combat training activities of Lithuanian and American units at the Pabrad\u0117 training area located some 15 kilometers from the Belarusian border, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian official also accused the western media outlets of posting \u201ccontradictory, provocative and untrue reports” about the Zapad drill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late May, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin announced that the drill would be scaled down and relocated farther from the borders. Later, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u00a0said the move was designed to reduce tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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