Belarus and Russia have staged a massive joint military exercise outside Minsk, a display that appears to double as a warning to Europe at a time of mounting regional friction.
At the Borisovsky training ground, about 72km from the Belarusian capital, guided bombs from Sukhoi-34 jets thundered into the field as mortar and artillery fire shook the area.
Helicopter gunships roared overhead while drones hovered to monitor destruction below. The drill, although described as routine, had all the makings of a real battlefield.
The exercises form part of “Zapad-2025” (West 2025), a large-scale military operation held every four years. This year’s drills involved fewer troops compared to the 200,000 deployed in 2022.
Still, Belarus and Russia argue the manoeuvres are defensive, aimed at boosting joint security against outside threats.
Belarusian officials stressed openness, pointing out that military attachés and observers from 23 countries, including the US, Turkey and Hungary, were invited to witness the exercises.
“We consider that the exercise is unprecedented in its transparency,” Major General Valery Revenko, assistant to the Belarusian defence minister, told journalists. “We are not threatening anyone. We are for constructive and pragmatic dialogue.”
The last time Russian and Belarusian troops carried out such a drill, in February 2022, many soldiers did not return home. Instead, they crossed into Ukraine as Russia launched its invasion from Belarusian territory. That precedent has left Europe wary of similar scenarios.
Poland has voiced its unease. Prime Minister Donald Tusk labelled the “West 2025” drills “very aggressive,” and Warsaw closed its border with Belarus in response, sparking a sharp reaction from Minsk.
Meanwhile, NATO states remain on high alert after drone incursions linked to Moscow. Poland recently accused Russia of deliberately violating its airspace, prompting NATO to scramble fighter jets.
Russia denied targeting Polish territory, but a similar incident was confirmed by Romania, which reported a Russian drone entering its skies.
These developments unfold against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising doubts in Europe about Moscow’s intentions.
For Belarus, opening the drills to media and foreign observers may be an attempt to project transparency.
But the smoke, blasts, and gunfire on the training field also carry another message—Europe is being reminded of the firepower massed on its borders and the risks of direct confrontation with Moscow.
