Polish border security personnel prepare the area for a visit by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Poland-Belarus border in Krynki, eastern Poland, Aug. 25, 2025. Image: Janek Skarzynski/AFP/Getty Images via Kyiv Independent.
(The Post News)– Russia and Belarus launched Zapad-2025, a large-scale military drill near the Polish border, two days after the Russian drone incursion, prompting the NATO member to close the border to Belarus.
The Russian Defence Ministry announced the drills will run from September 12 to September 16. The purpose of the drills is to strengthen Belarus and Russia’s defense capabilities and ensure they are prepared to counter any “possible aggression.”
It was announced on Tuesday that Russian ally Belarus would be joining Russia in the long-planned Zapad military training. The drills will include air and ground combat training as well as nuclear weapons training. The exercises will include air and ground combat training, as well as nuclear weapons drills.
With an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 combined troops taking part, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the exercises as “aggressive” and confirmed that on September 11 Poland would lose the border to its neighbor. Notably, the border announcement came before the drone incursion a day later.
On Wednesday, September 10, Poland shot down three Russian drones after 19 airspace incursions, believed to be en route to Ukraine. In response, Poland invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which calls for consultation and coordination in the event of aggression and could escalate to Article 5, the “collective defense guarantee.”
Russia denied responsibility for the drones, but NATO remains on high alert, especially as the Union State allies coordinate. Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka called suggestions of an attack “utter nonsense,” asserting that Belarusian troops will not attack Ukraine or Poland.
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