Russia, Belarus Conclude Zapad-2025 with Massive Joint Drills
Foreign Delegations Observe Russia-Belarus Strategic Drills
Moscow, September 16, 2025 (Adnan Hameed) : Russia and Belarus are conducting the final stage of the Zapad-2025 joint strategic exercise, aimed at practicing operations to repel potential aggression against the Union State.
The exercise, held from September 12 to 16 at 41 land and sea training grounds in both countries, involves 100,000 service personnel and around 10,000 units of modern weapons and military equipment, including 333 aircraft and 247 naval vessels.
President Vladimir Putin visited the training grounds, inspected weapons and equipment, and addressed the participants. He emphasized that the scenarios are based on real combat experience and focused on ensuring sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security.
A total of 25 foreign delegations attended the exercise, with 16 countries sending representatives and six dispatching military contingents.
Approximately 100,000 personnel were engaged, supported by 10,000 units of military equipment. Military contingents from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, India, Iran, Congo, and Mali participated, along with observers from 23 countries, including NATO members Hungary, Turkey, and the United States. Belarus emphasised adherence to the OSCE Vienna Document, extending invitations to all 56 participating states.
Russian forces positioned Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems in Kaliningrad, which are equipped for nuclear strikes, and performed electronic missile launches that simulated operational readiness without physical missile launches. The exercises encompassed extensive command-and-control procedures, aerial and artillery attacks, unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance, and simulated casualty evacuation. The exercises included a situation where an adversary sought to destabilise a fictional allied state (”Polesye”), which was addressed by a joint Russian-Belarusian counter-operation.
The exercises occurred concurrently as increased NATO activity, including Poland’s Iron Defender drills with 30,000 participants and 600 pieces of equipment, and NATO’s Eastern Sentry patrol, which was launched in response to Russian drones entering Polish airspace.
