The Zapad 2025 maneuvers were aimed at defending the borders using lessons from the Ukraine conflict, the president said
The large-scale joint Zapad 2025 military drill between Russia and Belarus was designed to repel attacks using lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. The maneuvers, which concluded on Tuesday, took place amid ongoing tensions between Russia and NATO.
Putin visited a command post in Mulino, northwestern Russia, where he met with Defense Minister Andrey Belousov.
“The purpose of the exercise is to rehearse all elements necessary to fully protect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and defend against any aggression,” Putin said.
He added that the drill’s planners had “incorporated lessons learned from the special military operation” in Ukraine.
The drills involved 100,000 troops, 10,000 pieces of military hardware, including 333 aircraft, and around 250 naval vessels, the president said.
Last week, Poland closed its border with Belarus, calling the exercise “very aggressive.”
Earlier in September, Warsaw launched its own Iron Defender-25 drill, involving 30,000 troops. Lithuania, another neighbor of Belarus, began its Thunder Strike national defense drill last week.
Moscow has said it would not attack a NATO country unless it is attacked first.
Earlier this month, Poland accused Russia of violating its airspace with at least 19 drones, a claim Moscow denied. NATO responded by deploying additional warplanes to patrol Polish skies.
