Russia and Belarus began major joint military exercises Friday along NATO’s eastern frontier, two days after Polish forces shot down Russian drones that crossed into alliance airspace for the first time since the Ukraine war began.
The “Zapad-2025” drills, running through September 16, are taking place at training grounds in both countries near the Polish border. The exercises follow the September 10 incident when at least 19 Russian drones penetrated Polish airspace, prompting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to tell members of parliament in Warsaw that it brought the region “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II.”
Poland closed its border with Belarus Thursday night and deployed 40,000 troops to its eastern frontier. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said at a news conference at the Terespol-Brest border crossing that the closure would remain “until further notice,” stating: “During these exercises, the Russian and Belarusian armies are practicing aggressive scenarios against our country. We will resume operations when we are certain that the safety of Poles is guaranteed.”
🚨BREAKING/ALERT: Poland has fully closed its border with Belarus tonight due to the start of the Zapad 2025 Russian military exercises.
Russian officials have threatened Warsaw with “consequences” if it decides to move forward with closing the border.pic.twitter.com/NO3nrYDnGL
— The Enforcer (@ItsTheEnforcer) September 11, 2025
Western estimates suggest 13,000 to 30,000 troops are participating, significantly smaller than the 200,000 claimed for Zapad 2021. That exercise preceded Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine by five months, with many participants later deployed in the assault launched partly from Belarus.
Polish officials believe the current drills include rehearsing an attack on the Suwałki Gap, the strategic corridor connecting Poland and Lithuania that separates Belarus from Russia’s Kaliningrad region. Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk called Zapad-2025 “an offensive exercise,” noting Poland conducted its own “Iron Defender” exercises with over 30,000 soldiers in preparation.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Poland’s border closure as “destructive,” warning: “We urge Warsaw to consider the consequences of such destructive steps.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the exercises could provide “cover” for strikes against neighboring countries. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed attack suggestions as “utter nonsense” while freeing 52 political prisoners Thursday at Trump’s request.
NATO forces across Eastern Europe remain on high alert, with Germany conducting parallel Quadriga 2025 exercises and Lithuania staging its own maneuvers during the Russian-Belarusian drills.
