Russia and Belarus gear up for massive Zapad-2025 drills
Minsk and Moscow are preparing for the Zapad-2025 (West-2025) military exercises, which will take place in Belarus and involve approximately 13,000 soldiers. In preparation, training has begun for the personnel of the Regional Joint Forces Grouping, as reported by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense. The aim is to "increase the defense capability" of Russia and Belarus.
On Tuesday, January 14th, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Defense announced the start of training for the personnel of the Joint Command of the Regional Joint Forces Grouping of Belarus and Russia. These exercises are part of the preparations for the Zapad-2025 maneuvers, expected to be among the largest in recent years. According to announcements, Minsk and Moscow will involve about 13,000 soldiers and numerous pieces of military equipment.
Russia and Belarus plan Zapad-2025
In October 2024, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced that the concept of the military exercises takes into account the "modern threats" to Russia and Belarus. He also stated that the Russians are continuing to analyze equipment captured by NATO. He noted, "We will identify its weak points and use these features when creating new weapons."
Meanwhile, the head of the Belarusian Defense Ministry, Viktor Khrenin, emphasized: “In these difficult times of a global impasse between the West and East, we intend to maintain the level of cooperation we have achieved so far and expand it further for the sake of the sovereignty and independence of our countries."
Cyclical maneuvers of Moscow and Minsk
Russia and Belarus conduct the strategic Zapad exercises every two years. The first maneuvers took place in 2009, and the last ones were in 2021. Those planned for 2023 were canceled. Neither Minsk nor Moscow officially commented on the reasons for that decision. Unofficially, it was said that there was a lack of sufficient soldiers and military equipment because the war in Ukraine required significantly larger resources than initially anticipated.
Approximately 200,000 soldiers, over 80 airplanes and helicopters, and 760 pieces of equipment, including more than 290 tanks and 240 artillery units, participated in the Zapad-2021 maneuvers. These were considered some of the largest in the region. Some exercises were conducted near the border with Poland. After their conclusion, Gen. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov stated that they demonstrated the Russian army's capability to "stop any aggression and conduct a decisive attack."
What equipment will appear at Zapad-2025?
It is unknown what equipment will appear this year. However, it's worth recalling that the Zapad-2021 maneuvers involved long-range S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, self-propelled artillery and missile anti-aircraft Tunguska 2K22 systems, 9K38 surface-to-air missile systems, multi-role fighter jets Su-30, bombers Su-24, fighter jets Su-24, helicopters Mi-24, helicopters Ka-27m, armored personnel carriers BTR-80, BMP-2, BMP-3, and tanks T-72B3 and T-72-BZM.
The Zapad-2025 exercises will take place in Belarus. The Odessa Journal reports an increased military presence can already be noticed along the border with Ukraine, particularly in the Stolin, Lelchytsy, Mozyr, and Homel regions. The Ukrainian armed forces are monitoring the situation at the border. According to them, there is currently no threat of invasion by regular Belarusian forces.
It is noteworthy that the specific date for the Zapad-2025 maneuvers has not yet been announced. They are most likely to begin in the second half of the year.
