"A joint military exercise between Russian and Belarusian forces has started amid escalating tensions in the region. Dubbed "Zapad," the Russian word for "west," the exercises will see significant military activity in regions close to key European borders and amid a recent ramping up of Russian aggression in both its ongoing war against Ukraine and, now, against neighboring NATO states."
"Zapad, held every four years, sees Russia and its chief European ally Belarus undertake joint military exercises in each of their territories. It is considered the key event for the "Union State" forces, a joint economic and defense partnership between the two nations. The purpose of the exercise is to simulate and prepare for possible conflict. The first post-Soviet Zapad drills occurred in 1999 and have taken place every four years since 2009."
"Zapad 2025 will take place primarily in Belarus, which borders several EU and NATO members Poland, Latvia and Lithuania and Ukraine. Reported locations for activity include the city of Barysaw, about 74 kilometers (46 miles) northeast of Belarus's capital, Minsk, and the Grodno region, which borders Poland and Lithuania. Some exercises will occur in western Russia, and naval deployments have also taken place in the Baltic and Barents seas, and the Arctic Ocean."
Zapad 2025 is a joint Russian-Belarusian military exercise running September 12–16. The exercises are held every four years and serve as the main training event for the Union State's combined forces. The drills simulate and prepare for possible conflict and date back to post-Soviet iterations beginning in 1999 with four-year cadence since 2009. Activities will occur primarily in Belarus near Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine, including Barysaw and Grodno regions, with additional operations in western Russia and naval deployments in the Baltic, Barents and Arctic seas. Participation numbers for prior drills reached about 200,000 troops in 2021, and analysts warn of potential underreporting.
Read at www.dw.com
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