{"id":155757,"date":"2025-09-16T17:24:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T14:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/155757\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"zapad-2025-soldiers-trained-to-fight-drones-armed-groups-storm-settlements","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/155757\/","title":{"rendered":"Zapad-2025: soldiers trained to fight drones, armed groups, storm settlements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 16, Pozirk.<\/strong> During the Zapad-2025 exercise, soldiers trained in combatting unmanned aerial systems, including first-person view (FPV) drones, quadcopters and large drones, said Pavie\u0142 Muraviejka, the Belarusian General Staff chief, commenting on maneuvers that are scheduled to draw to a close today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur air defense forces worked skillfully to shoot down all the air targets assigned for destruction. Although we are still summing up the results of the exercise, our air defense forces already have a solid excellent rating,\u201d Muraviejka said, as quoted by the defense ministry\u2019s press service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said soldiers also trained in storming settlements and clearing areas of \u201cillegal armed and sabotage and reconnaissance groups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The general said the military used state-of-the art vehicles, including motorcycles, buggies and robotic systems. Moreover, soldiers studied and \u201cactively used\u201d electronic warfare (EW) systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muraviejka claimed that the Belarusian defense industry produces \u201cthe most modern EW systems.\u201d \u201cThis is very expensive and allows us to equip ourselves with the latest technology,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the general, troops also achieved \u201cquite good\u201d results in counter-battery warfare. Today\u2019s missile forces and artillery systems locate and promptly provide the coordinates of enemy batteries for effective combat, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said officers trained in planning the use on non-strategic nuclear weapons and \u201cassessment and deployment of the Oreshnik mobile missile system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September 16 sees the completion of the active phase of the exercise. \u201cThis does not mean that the exercise automatically ends today,\u201d Muraviejka pointed out. \u201cIt will be completed when the last vehicle, the last combat unit of equipment is parked and the last soldier takes his position in the permanent base.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier in the day, the Polish interior ministry said that Poland would not open its border with Belarus when the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 drill draws to a close on September 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Polish-Belarusian border will remain closed until further notice due to concerns over the safety of Polish citizens, it noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warsaw will restore cross-border traffic once security services confirm the border\u2019s safety, according to the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poland closed all checkpoints on the shared border with Belarus on September 12, citing risks posed by Zapad-2025 that started on that day. Earlier, Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwi\u0144ski said Warsaw would reopen the border when officials are fully confident that Belarus does not pose a direct threat to Poland or its citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Belarusians can enter the European Union only via two border crossings operated by Lithuania and one by Latvia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The maneuvers\u2014along with Russian drone incursions last week\u2014prompted neighboring countries and NATO to strengthen security measures. Poland closed its border with Belarus and deployed up to 40,000 additional troops to its eastern flank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latvia launched Namejs 2025, involving about 12,000 Latvian and allied troops, including units from Estonia. Lithuania began Perk\u016bno 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The previous Zapad drills, held several months before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, involved about 200,000 troops in total. Russian forces stationed in Belarus at that time later took part in the invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s exercise is much smaller. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin has stated that it involved about 7,000 soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are 6,000 troops from the Republic of Belarus and about 1,000 troops from the Russian Federation,\u201d Chrenin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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