Minsk and Moscow 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 around 13,000 soldiers. As part of the preparations, training has begun for the personnel of the Regional Joint Forces Grouping, as reported by the Belarusian Ministry of Defence. The aim is to "increase the defence capability" of Russia and Belarus.
On Tuesday, 14th January, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Defence 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 Zapad-2025, which are expected to be among the largest in recent years. Minsk and Moscow will involve roughly 13,000 soldiers and numerous pieces of military equipment.
Russia and Belarus plan Zapad-2025
In October 2024, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov announced that the concept of the military exercises considers "modern threats" to Russia and Belarus. He also mentioned that the Russians continue to analyse equipment captured by NATO. He noted: "We will identify its weaknesses and use these insights when creating new weapons."
Meanwhile, the head of the Belarusian Defence Ministry, Viktor Khrenin, emphasised: "In these challenging times of global stalemate between the West and East, we intend to maintain and further develop our cooperation to safeguard the sovereignty and independence of our countries."
Cyclical manoeuvres of Moscow and Minsk
Russia and Belarus conduct the strategic Zapad exercises every two years. The first of these manoeuvres took place in 2009, and the last occurred in 2021. Those planned for 2023 were cancelled. Neither Minsk nor Moscow officially commented on the reasons behind this decision. Unofficially, it was said there was a shortage of soldiers and military equipment, as the conflict in Ukraine required significantly more resources than initially anticipated.
Approximately 200,000 soldiers, over 80 aeroplanes and helicopters, and 760 pieces of equipment, including more than 290 tanks and 240 artillery units, took part in the Zapad-2021 manoeuvres. They were considered some of the largest in the region. Some exercises were conducted on training grounds located near the Polish border. 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 be used this year. However, it is worth recalling that the Zapad-2021 manoeuvres involved, among others, 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, armoured personnel carriers BTR-80, BMP-2, BMP-3, as well as tanks T-72B3 and T-72-BZM.
The Zapad-2025 exercises will take place in Belarus. The Odessa Journal reports that an increased military presence is already noticeable 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 worth noting that the specific date for the Zapad-2025 manoeuvres has not yet been announced. They are most likely to begin in the second half of the year.
