"A large contingent of the Russian Armed Forces is already deployed in Belarus, on the doorstep of Europe, to train for open warfare against NATO starting this Friday. The Zapad 2025 exercise will include the development of the Oreshnik ballistic missile, a much more dangerous weapon than the drones with which Moscow tested NATO defenses in Poland on Wednesday. The Kremlin maintains that these maneuvers are not directed against anyone,"
"During the most recent maneuvers, held in September 2021, Washington finally understood that an invasion of Ukraine was imminent. Right about then we realized this is odd; it was much bigger in scale and scope than the previous year's exercise, Mark Milley, then chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, later told Politico. In December of that year, the presidents of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, announced another unprecedented joint exercise, Allied Resolution, for February 2022."
Russian and Belarusian forces are conducting the Zapad 2025 military exercise near NATO borders, with troops deployed in Belarus and maneuvers scheduled for September 12–16. The exercise reportedly includes testing of the Oreshnik ballistic missile and dozens of aircraft, with Belarusian officials saying about 13,000 troops will participate while Western intelligence suspects higher numbers and Ukrainian warnings of up to 150,000 troops. Historical precedent includes the 2021 maneuvers that preceded the 2022 invasion of Ukraine from Belarus. Kremlin statements claim the drills are not directed at any country, while Russian propaganda highlights perceived Western vulnerabilities.
Read at english.elpais.com
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