On September 12, large-scale joint military exercises ‘West-2025’, organized in collaboration with the Russian Federation, began on Belarusian territory. These maneuvers will last until September 16 and are taking place near Borisov. Before their commencement, Poland accused Moscow of escalating tensions due to the launch of drones into its airspace.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Heightened Security at the Borders of Eastern NATO Members
Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, which border Belarus, have implemented increased security measures in response to the exercises. Poland has completely closed its border with Belarus, explaining that this step will remain in place “until the threat is eliminated,” and not just during the maneuvers. Other NATO member states are also taking additional precautions to ensure security.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that the country is in a state of heightened tension not seen since World War II. According to him, Poland and its allies were forced to scramble fighter jets on September 10 due to the passage of Russian drones in their airspace.
“The purpose of such actions by Russia is certainly not defensive and is aimed specifically against Ukraine.”
Moscow, for its part, claims that the exercises are planned and not aggressive in nature. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the North Atlantic Alliance is allegedly misinterpreting the events.
Scale of the Exercises and Strategic Importance of the Suwalki Corridor
In 2021, approximately 200,000 servicemen were involved in similar exercises, which preceded Russia’s large-scale offensive in Ukraine. In 2025, the scale of the maneuvers is significantly smaller due to the participation of a large number of Russian troops in combat operations on Ukrainian territory. Preliminary data indicated that the number of participants was initially planned to be around 13,000, but it was later reduced by about half.
Donald Tusk noted that the scenario of the exercises includes simulating the occupation of the Suwalki Corridor—a strategic stretch between Poland and Lithuania, surrounded by Belarus and the Russian Kaliningrad enclave. This area is considered potentially vulnerable for NATO and could become the first target in the event of Russian aggression.
In August, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense announced the planned use of a new Russian experimental missile “Oreshnik,” capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. According to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, the main goal of the exercises is to “practice the joint actions of Belarusian and Russian troops in ensuring the military security of the Union State and readiness to repel possible aggression.”