Members of the eastern flank of the NATO alliance, including Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, were placed on full alert following the start of a large joint Russian-Belarusian exercise called Zapad-2025.
The exercise, which began today (September 12, 2025) near the borders of Poland and other Baltic countries, comes just days after Warsaw accused Moscow of deliberately sending Russian drones into Polish airspace, and has heightened tensions on Europe’s eastern borders.
The Zapad-2025 exercises, which are held every two years, include large-scale military maneuvers focused on cooperation between Russian and Belarusian forces and, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, emphasize improving cooperative command skills and field training.
These maneuvers are being conducted at training grounds in both countries, including near the Polish border, and include the use of drones, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence for decision-making support.
The Kremlin has stressed that the exercise is not directed against any country, but NATO leaders see it as a “show of force” and a “provocation.”
