Putin Oversees Russia Belarus Joint Military Drills
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday personally supervised the joint Russian-Belarusian exercises Zapad-2025, the Kremlin confirmed.
Putin arrived at the Mulino training ground in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region in military uniform, highlighting his role as commander-in-chief. He told troops the drills were aimed at defending the Union State, the alliance between Russia and Belarus.
“These exercises prepare all elements needed to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity against aggression,” he said.
The Kremlin reported that the drills cover 41 training sites. They involve 100,000 soldiers, 10,000 units of modern equipment, 333 aircraft, and 247 naval vessels, including submarines. Putin said the scenarios are based on lessons from recent combat operations.
The exercises also included foreign participation. Twenty-five delegations attended, with 16 countries sending observers and six contributing troops. Putin inspected new weapons before observing the main phase with Defense Minister Andrey Belousov.
Speaking to foreign representatives, Putin thanked them for joining. He said the drills would build trust and strengthen cooperation. “You saw how the Russian army operates in modern conflicts. Please share my best wishes with your leaders,” he told them.
Belousov later reported that Russian and Belarusian units, supported by coalition partners, had achieved their goals.
Western officials reacted with concern. Finland’s defense chief compared the event to exercises held shortly before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
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PRESS UPDATE