In a moment of great tension in the framework of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – disseminated by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, more than three years ago – Russia and Belarus began last Friday some joint military maneuvers that include exercises in both countries, as well as in the Baltic and Barents seas.
The Russian Defense Ministry specified in a statement published in its Telegram account that these maneuvers, called ‘Zapad-2025’, suppose “the final stage of the joint training of the armed forces of both countries during this year”, with the aim of “improving capabilities”, “improving the level of interaction and field training” to “maintain peace, protect interests and guarantee military security.”
He also explained that during a “first phase” of these maneuvers, operations will be simulated to “repel an aggression” against Russia and Belarus, while the second will focus on “the restoration of the territorial integrity of the state of the union and the defeat of the enemy, including the participation of coaligated groups of friendly countries.”
The Russian Defense portfolio stressed that “operational groups of the military controls and contingents of the Organization of the Collective Security Treaty (OTSC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (OCS) and other partner countries have been invited to maneuvers”, without details about which other countries participate in them.
Kremlin spokesman, Dimitri Peskov, highlighted Thursday at a press conference that these maneuvers, which will partly take place near the border with Poland, “are not directed against anyone” and said they are framed in “military cooperation” between “two strategic allies.”
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that Poland and his NATO allies are “prepared for any provocation.” “The Zapad maneuvers have begun, which we are following with special attention,” Tusk said in a press conference, collected by the Polish press agency PAP, according to which the head of the Poland government also talked about the preparation against possible provocations of rival countries.
“At the same time, NATO Member States are carrying out maneuvers on our side, so that any potential adversary has no doubt that we are prepared for any possible provocation,” he added, in an allusion to the current exercises of the Atlantic Alliance Iron Defender-25.
In the Zapad-2025, between 13,000 and 30,000 troops of Russia and Belarus, 6,000 of which will execute their exercises in Belarusian territory, a short distance from the so-called ‘Suwalki Corridor’, a border strip of less than 100 kilometers wide that is the only land between the Baltic and Poland will participate.
The Polish Half He pointed out that experts emphasize that the Kaliningrad region remains a key place during these exercises. There, they have affirmed, Russia maintains its air, land and missile forces.
“If there was an escalation and Russia triggered missiles from there to Warsaw, the answer would have to be the destruction of the infrastructure in the Kaliningrad region. It is a small area, so, in theory, its offensive combat capacity could be peaceful with relative speed,” he explained. Michał Piekarski, security expert, cited by Tok FM.
However, according to analysts, the Russian Navy represents a greater challenge. “Once on the high seas, they are moving. Surface ships can still be traced with relative ease, but submarines represent a much greater challenge. And yet they can also carry missiles,” Piekarski recalled.
