Warsaw, September 13, 2025 — Around 40,000 Polish soldiers have been stationed along the country’s eastern border as Russia and Belarus launch their Zapad-2025 military exercises. The large maneuvers, held close to NATO’s borders, have triggered strong reactions in Warsaw and renewed regional unease.
Crossings Ordered Closed
Polish authorities announced that all designated border and railway points with Belarus will be shut from midnight. Officials said the closures are a precautionary step to safeguard the country while the exercises take place, describing the drills as a threatening show of power from Minsk and Moscow.
What the Drills Entail
Military leaders in Belarus and Russia describe the exercises as routine and defensive. Statements from their defense ministries outline training that includes countering invasions and restoring sovereignty over contested areas. Within NATO, however, the Zapad operations are widely viewed as signals of strength intended for the alliance’s eastern members.
Drone Incursions Add to Unease
The buildup comes after recent reports of drones entering Polish airspace. Warsaw connected the incidents to the heightened military activity nearby and has since increased its own defense training programs to ensure troops are prepared for potential provocations.
Regional Response
Officials in Warsaw emphasize that the deployment is a defensive safeguard, while Belarus maintains that its maneuvers do not target neighboring states. NATO members are following the situation closely, treating the exercises as yet another flashpoint in already tense relations with Moscow.
Outlook for the Weeks Ahead
With thousands of troops positioned at the frontier and border crossings sealed, the atmosphere remains strained. The Zapad-2025 drills, scheduled to run for several weeks, are expected to be a pivotal test for stability on NATO’s eastern border.
