Russia and Belarus are honing their skills with a fresh missile technology
Russia has recently concluded its Sapad (West) 2025 military exercise, a drill that has raised concerns among NATO members, particularly Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The exercise, which took place in the Baltic and Arctic Barents Seas, involved approximately 6,000 Belarusian soldiers and 1,000 Russian soldiers.
In a move that has further heightened tensions, Russia is reported to have maintained tactical nuclear weapons in a closely allied neighboring country, believed to be Belarus. This deployment has been met with apprehension, as the mobile missile systems Oreschnik, which are nuclear-capable, were stationed in Belarus as part of the joint military maneuvers. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has also expressed his desire for these Russian medium-range missiles to be permanently stationed in his country.
The Sapad (West) 2025 exercise was smaller than the one held in 2021, but it still caused concern. In 2021, Russia used a similar exercise to prepare for the invasion of Ukraine, a fact that has not been forgotten by NATO. The exercise in 2025 included the planning and testing of the deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons and the testing and deployment of the Oreschnik missile complex.
Poland has responded to these developments by closing its border with Belarus. The spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior in Warsaw stated that Poland will resume traffic once the border is fully secure and this is confirmed by information from the authorities. The Polish border closure comes amidst reports of a larger number of Russian drones entering Polish airspace before the start of Sapad (West) 2025.
The incident was considered by NATO as a Moscow provocation to test defense capabilities on the eastern flank. NATO forces are currently exercising in Poland and the Baltic countries in response. The exercise did not constitute an attack according to NATO, but it has underscored the need for vigilance and preparedness in the region.
Since the November 2024 strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro using the newly developed weapon without warheads, no launches have been reported. This offers a glimmer of hope that tensions may be easing, but the situation remains volatile.
In a positive development, Poland has announced that it will keep its border with Belarus closed beyond the exercise. This decision suggests a firm stance by Poland in the face of potential threats and a commitment to the security of its borders.
The ongoing tensions serve as a reminder of the complex geopolitical landscape in Europe and the need for continued dialogue and cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the region.
