Russia extends Zapad 2025 military drills to Kaliningrad
Illustrative photo: Russia expands Zapad 2025 military exercises to Kaliningrad region (Getty Images)
The Russian Baltic Fleet conducted combat operations in the Kaliningrad region as part of the joint Zapad 2025 exercises with Belarus, according to the Belarusian Radio Liberty.
The media, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, reported that marines from the Baltic Fleet took part in the Zapad 2025 exercises.
The units practiced countering the landing of a “hypothetical enemy” on the coast of the Kaliningrad region.
In the second stage, the marines engaged in combat with the landing force and carried out live-fire exercises with small arms and BTR-82A armored personnel carriers.
To practice coastal defense, the Berezhok missile and gun complex was used to destroy an enemy naval drone.
Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers patrolled neutral waters for four hours and practiced combat missions over the Barents Sea.
According to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, one of the stages of the Zapad 2025 exercises will take place on September 15 at the 227th combined arms training ground in the Minsk region. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin arrived there.
Zapad 2025 exercises
Russia and Belarus are conducting military exercises called Zapad 2025 from September 12 to 16.
On September 13, footage appeared online showing the transfer of the Iskander operational-tactical missile complex to the Kaliningrad region.
Judging by its location, the complex could potentially pose a threat to six NATO countries.
Ukraine's State Border Service spokesman Andrii Demchenko told RBC-Ukraine that Russia's actions could not only contain military but also threatening purpose.
He added that Russia does not have enough forces in Belarus for a new full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but provocations cannot be ruled out, as was the case with the Iskander footage in Kaliningrad.
For more details about the Zapad 2025 exercises, their purpose and threats, as well as their connection to the recent attack on Poland and negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
