- Russia and Belarus commenced the "Zapad 2025" joint military exercises on Friday, set to conclude on Tuesday, involving thousands of troops across both nations and the Baltic and Barents Seas.
- The drills aim to demonstrate the close defence ties between Moscow and Minsk, as well as Russia's military capabilities, and include practicing the use of Russian nuclear weapons and Oreshnik intermediate-range missiles.
- Concerns have been raised by Western allies and Kyiv, particularly following a recent Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace and the historical precedent of Russian troops entering Ukraine from Belarus after previous drills.
- Belarusian officials initially stated 13,000 troops would participate, later reducing the number by half, with main manoeuvres occurring deeper inside the country, though some units will operate near the Polish and Lithuanian borders.
- In a move to improve relations with the West, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko invited international observers to the drills and recently oversaw the release of 52 political prisoners, leading to the lifting of some US sanctions.
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