Zapad-2025: Lukashenko touts nuclear scenario in drills
Although Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said after Zapad-2025 exercises that they practiced using nuclear warheads, pro-Russian bloggers called Russia-Belarus military drills a circus.
Follow us on Google
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko / © Associated Press / © Associated Press
Joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises Zapad-2025 have concluded, but their format proved far more modest than anticipated.
This was reported by NEXTA, an opposition Belarusian channel.
During the wrap-up, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, holding a glass of champagne, stated that maneuvers practiced scenarios involving «atomic warheads.»
«Exercises on Belarusian territory are planned Russian-Belarusian drills. And we practice everything there. They know this too, we don’t hide it: from small arms fire to atomic warheads, ” Lukashenko said.
At same time, exercises sparked mixed reactions. Some pro-Russian commentators criticized them, calling them a «circus performance.»
Belarusian General Staff even reported deployment of a new complex named «Oreshnik, ” but no photos or videos confirming this were released.
Will Russian troops remain in Belarus?
One of the key questions following the exercises is whether Russian forces will stay on Belarusian soil.
Let’s recall that after similar drills in 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory.