Date of Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 exercise announced
Illustrative photo: date of the Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 exercise announced (Getty Images)
The joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 military exercise will take place from September 12 to 16, 2025, according to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.
"The joint strategic exercise of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation Zapad-2025 will take place from 12 to 16 September 2025," the statement reads.
The Ministry of Defense claims that the purpose of the exercise is "to test the capabilities of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation to ensure the military security of the Union State and their readiness to repel possible aggression."
Zapad-2025 exercise
More than 13,000 military personnel are expected to take part in the maneuvers.
Spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andrii Demchenko, said that the first Russian units have already arrived in Belarus to participate in the exercise.
Moscow claims that the drills will be purely defensive in nature and aimed at practicing actions in the event of possible aggression against the so-called Union State — the alliance of Russia and Belarus.
Belarusian Defense Minister, Viktor Khrenin, stated that the main maneuvers of Zapad-2025 have been moved deeper into the country, away from the western borders, to reduce tensions in the region.
At the same time, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, warned that under the cover of these drills, there could be covert formation of offensive troop groups.
Read more on whether the Zapad-2025 exercises by Russia and Belarus pose a threat to Ukraine and what the National Security and Defense Council says in the RBC-Ukraine report.
