(Reuters)-Russia and Belarus began a major joint military exercise at NATO doors on Friday, at a time of greater tension with the Western Alliance, two days after Poland slaughtered Russian drones that crossed their airspace.
The “Zapad-2025” exercise, a demonstration of strength from Russia and its close ally, Belarus, is being held in training fields in both countries, including near the border with Poland.
He was scheduled well before the drone incident that marked the first known occasion when an NATO member fired on Russian targets during the three and a half years war.
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The Ministry of Defense of Russia said that in the first phase of the year, the troops would simulate the repulsion of an attack against Russia and Belarus, whose alliance is known as the state of the Union.
The second phase will focus on “restoring the territorial integrity of the State of the Union and crushing the enemy, including the participation of a coalition group of forces of friendly states,” the ministry said.
Belarus borders three NATO members – Poland, Lithuania and Latvia – to the west, and with Ukraine to the south.
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Kremlin said on Friday that European exercise concerns were an emotional response based on hostility against Russia. He refused to comment on this week’s drones incident, which was seen in the West as a warning to NATO and a test of his answers.
Western countries considered the Drone episode a deliberate provocation of Russia, which was denied by Moscow. The Russian Ministry of Defense said its drones had performed an attack in western Ukraine at the time, but had not planned to reach any target in Poland.
US President Donald Trump said the raid of Russian drones may have been a mistake. “I’m not happy with anything that has to do with the whole situation, but I hope it comes to an end,” he told reporters on Thursday.
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Poland on maximum alert
Even before the incident, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the next “Zapad” as “very aggressive” maneuvers and announced that Poland would close its Belarus border at midnight on Thursday.
Polish Deputy Minister Cezary Tomczyk said Poland had been preparing for many months and was performing her own exercises with the code name “Iron Defender.”
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“There are about 30,000 soldiers in Iron defended and about 5,000 on the border,” said Tomczyk in response to Reuters questions.
Lithuania also said it is protecting its border because of military exercise.
