Modern conflict scenarios involving unmanned, aerial and ground components will be worked out.
Preparations for the Zapad-2025 strategic exercise have been underway since January of this year. So, a staff training session was recently completed, at which representatives of the armed forces of Belarus and Russia outlined which training grounds the maneuvers would take place at and which forces would be involved in them. One way or another, scenarios for the use of tactical nuclear weapons and the new Oreshnik complex will be on the agenda of joint exercises, experts say. What Russia and Belarus will work out at the landfills is in the Izvestia article.
The purpose of the joint exercises of Russia and Belarus
The staff training of representatives of the armed forces of Belarus and Russia lasted two days and ended on January 16. One of the options for using a group of troops in the course of joint operations was worked out. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus.
The training is an integral part of a set of measures to prepare for the joint strategic exercise Zapad-2025, which will be held this year in Belarus. The joint maneuvers were announced last October by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Victor Tolochko
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"The Zapad exercises will take into account current threats to Moscow and Minsk, as well as the current situation, including the situation in the special operation zone in Ukraine. During the meeting, important decisions were taken to further improve the military organization and enhance the defense capability of the Union of the two countries. A plan to ensure the military security of the Union State for 2025-2027 has been approved," he said.
What common threats do Russia and Belarus have?
As military expert Viktor Litovkin explained to Izvestia, staff exercises are when the general staffs of the two countries get together and outline which training grounds the maneuvers will take place at, which forces will be involved, what the scenario and plan will be.
"That is, the Zapad exercises were conducted, but so far on paper," he clarified. — In addition, a presidential decree was recently issued on conscription of reservists for military service. They're always called in for maneuvers, there's nothing unusual about that. This is done so that they can remember their skills at the training grounds, in particular how to control self-propelled artillery or a tank.
Viktor Litovkin believes that the strategic exercises demonstrate Russia's high combat readiness and military might.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Victor Tolochko
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— An important caveat is that the exercises will take place in parallel with the tasks of a special military operation. This means that Russia, while investing a lot of forces, both material and human, in combat operations, still has the opportunity to conduct these exercises," the expert noted.
Presidential elections will be held in Belarus this year, which unfriendly forces can use against our union republic, said Roman Shkurlatov, chairman of the board of the all-Russian organization Officers of Russia, reserve Lieutenant Colonel.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Victor Tolochko
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— Now Belarus is actually surrounded by unfriendly countries — Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic states, — he noted. — During the difficult pre-election period, the enemy will try to sway the situation from the inside and, possibly, influence from the outside. High-ranking representatives of law enforcement agencies have repeatedly talked about such plans. For this reason, one of the elements of the maneuvers is likely to be working out how to counter internal challenges and the penetration of sabotage and reconnaissance groups into the country in order to expand the conflict.
The expert also noted that the ongoing armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine leaves its mark on everything that is happening around.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Victor Tolochko
Image source: iz.ru
"The exercises will also work out modern conflict scenarios involving unmanned, aerial and ground components," he said. — Also, we must not forget that after the change in the nuclear doctrine of the Russian Federation, tactical nuclear weapons were deployed in Belarus. There are also prospects for the deployment of the new Oreshnik complex. The scenarios for their use will be worked out one way or another. It is also important to work out the transfer of forces and assets — in modern conditions, this is probably one of the most difficult components in the conduct of hostilities.
In addition, the deployment of new divisions and bases in Poland on the border with Belarus will also be taken into account, Roman Shkurlatov noted.
"All this does not add to the peace in the region," the expert said. — The situation is such that we need to keep our fists at the ready. An attack on the Republic of Belarus will be regarded as an attack on the Russian Federation, this is spelled out in all our doctrinal documents. For this reason, we have something to work on.
Izvestia reference
The joint strategic exercises of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus are held every two years in accordance with the decision taken by the heads of the two states.
The last maneuvers took place in 2021. At that time, up to 200,000 personnel, about 80 aircraft and helicopters, up to 760 pieces of military equipment, including 290 tanks, 240 guns, multiple launch rocket systems and mortars, and up to 15 ships took part in them.
NATO experts at the Zapad-2025 exercises
Belarus has already notified about the holding of the Zapad-2025 joint exercises with the Russian Federation and plans to invite representatives of some EU and NATO countries as observers. This was stated by the head of the Department of International military cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, Major General Valery Revenko.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Victor Tolochko
Image source: iz.ru
"We plan to invite delegations from our allies, friends, and partners to this exercise. The idea is being worked out, who to invite to what stages. We have a positive attitude towards a number of EU member states and individual NATO member states," he explained.
Revenko also clarified that more than 13,000 personnel will take part in the Zapad-2025 exercises.
Julia Leonova
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
