– We have no signs for preparations for an attack under the cover of exercises. However, we will be vigilant, not only German forces, but also NATO Breuer told. He added that he expects the presence of 13 thousand. soldiers during a part of the exercises, which will take place in Belarus. Further 30 thousand In his opinion, military will take exercises in Russia.
Minsk and Moscow declared that 13,000 will participate in the ZAPAD-2025 maneuvers planned from 12 to 16 September. soldiers. However, the Lithuanian intelligence services have determined that the number of military people involved in the exercises would be higher. Representatives of the Lithuanian authorities gave lower numbers than Breuer – up to 30,000 Belarusian and Russian military.
Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Zalewski informed at the end of August that The Polish side assumes that the exercises will be accompanied by an increase in the propaganda and hybrid war.
Cyclical joint maneuvers of Russia and Belarus
Exercises were collapsed for the first time in 1981. At that time, 150,000 took part in them. soldiers. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus and Russia resumed them in 1999, and since 2009 they have been held cyclically every 4 years. It was usually declared that 13,000 participate in maneuvers. soldiers, which avoids the requirement of the presence of observers of security and cooperation in Europe.
Belarusian-Russian maneuvers were also a manifestation of strength against NATO. It is estimated that 70,000 took part in the exercises in 2017. military, and four years later it was supposed to be up to 250 thousand. Some of them, concentrated in Belarus near the border with Ukraine, were used in the invasion in February 2022.
