The joint military exercises called Zapad-2025 have officially begun, with heavy involvement from Russian and Belarusian militaries. Indeed, military drills are taking place at scores of training grounds across Russia and Belarus. They even stretch into the Baltic and Barents Seas. These exercises are an example of the changing nature of modern combat. One common denominator is that both nations are seeking to respond to rising regional tensions.
Zapad-2025 began with a typical show of military muscle that included off-shore naval bombardments. Russian fighter jets roared overhead, conducting bombing runs on mock targets modeled after a variety of real-world threats. Other showy aspects of the exercises included Russian warships firing Zircon hypersonic missiles in the Barents Sea, displaying advanced weaponry capabilities.
Moscow’s planes flew sorties over North Western Russia and Belarus, armed with Khinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles. It was emphasized that Belarusian servicemen were the key figures during the drills. Key to this transformation was the military’s prioritization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), amplifying their operational effectiveness tremendously.
A huge training camp around 60 miles north of Minsk has especially caught the world’s imagination. The Belarusian Defense Ministry claims that NATO is concerned about the scale and intensity of these exercises. They argue that the alliance’s response shows the depth of concern. Valery Revenko took issue with the current troop numbers in the area. He asked why there should be panic about 40,000 Polish soldiers when there are only 6,800 Russian and Belarusian soldiers involved in the exercises.
“Where do you think there is more personnel? Probably over there. Why are 40,000 (the reported number of Polish soldiers deployed to the region) afraid of 6,800 (Russian and Belarusian troops)? This is a good question.” – Valery Revenko
The Zapad-2025 drills will demonstrate the full might of a combined Russian and Belarusian military. They will ultimately end in a full scale attack on a selected training area called a “polygon.” To further heighten the international excitement, the exercises are being closely watched by a delegation of U.S. military officers as well as representatives from Turkey and Hungary. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has been on hand to supervise some of the finer details of the military campaign.
The drills commence with an explosive show of force, featuring multiple fighter jets diving into low-level attacks to simulate realistic combat conditions. This new approach to military exercises is a tactical pivot for Russia. It is indicative of how Russia is learning and adapting in the intractable conflict that Ukraine has become.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, has remarked on the broader context of these drills, emphasizing Russia’s openness for dialogue while highlighting European nations’ refusal to address underlying issues contributing to current tensions.
“The Europeans are obstructing progress. They refuse to acknowledge the fundamental origins of this crisis, thereby blocking any path to addressing these very causes. Nonetheless, Russia remains open and prepared for dialogue.” – Dmitry Peskov
NATO and other Western countries have frequently objected to the size of Zapad-2025. According to Russia, less than 13,000 troops are participating in these exercises. The real troop numbers are still hotly debated by outside observers, stoking fears in the region.
As Zapad-2025 moves forward, it is a reminder of the new military realities in Eastern Europe. The drills not only serve as an opportunity for Russia and Belarus to refine their combat strategies but act as a signal of strength to neighboring countries and NATO allies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
