Russian and Belarusian armies are going to hold Zapad-2025 joint exercises in September. The trainings will include drills on the planned deployment of nuclear weapons and Russian-made, intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik missile, Belarus’s Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said on 13 August.
His comments were made two days before the meeting of U.S President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, to discuss a possible deal to end the full-scale war in Ukraine. , which Moscow partially launched Belarusian territory in February 2022.
Khrenin reported to journalists in Minsk that Belarusians would work with their Russian counterparts on how to use the Oreshnik and nuclear weapons during the military exercises to be held from 12-16 September.
"This is an important element of our strategic deterrence. As the head of state demands, we must be prepared for anything," Khrenin reported to Belta, a Belarusian state news agency.
"We see the situation on our western and northern borders and cannot calmly watch the militarisation and military activity. We demonstrate our openness and peacefulness, but we must always keep our powder dry", he added.
Earlier this month, Putin announced that the Oreshnik (Hazel Tree) had gone into consecutive production and had been delivered to the military forces. This weapon was first used by Moscow against Ukraine last November, targeting the city of Dnipro.
Last week, Kremlin declared that it would no longer place any limits on where it deploys intermediate-range missiles which can carry nuclear warheads, revoking the previous moratorium.
The upcoming “Zapad-2025” (West 2025) military exercises have raised security concerns in neighbouring Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. However, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the idea that Minsk would utilise the exercises to attack its neighbours. He considered it as a “complete nonsense."
Belarusian defence officials have stated that upcoming joint NATO drills will be held in Poland. It will involve at least 34,000 troops, as evidence of growing militarisation along Belarus' borders.
"We need to watch them very closely (which is what we will be doing) and respond accordingly," Khrenin said on 13 August, referring to the NATO drills.
"If they show any aggression toward the Republic of Belarus, we have the means to respond", he added.
Armenia heads to the polls on 7 June in a key parliamentary vote seen as a test of its democratic reforms and future political direction. Prime Minist...
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S...
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships ...
The U.S. plans to seek the redirection of Iranian assets to Gulf states to help fund reconstruction and repairs for damage attributed to Iran, a sourc...
At least a dozen people were wounded, two critically, on Saturday (6 June) in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said....
Kyrgyzstan has signed a series of cooperation agreements with China and Belarus at the Fifth Forum of Regional Leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, underlining the country's growing economic engagement within the regional bloc.
Latvia is strengthening its anti-drone capabilities along its borders with Russia and Moscow-allied Belarus after several drones entered the NATO member’s airspace, according to a senior military official.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said Belarus will not be dragged into the war in Ukraine, while also stressing that Minsk and Moscow would jointly respond to any aggression against them.
Russia delivered nuclear munitions to field storage facilities in Belarus as part of major nuclear drills, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Thursday.
Armenia heads to the polls on 7 June in a key parliamentary vote seen as a test of its democratic reforms and future political direction. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is seeking re-election amid domestic polarisation, security challenges and regional diplomatic tensions.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
At least a dozen people were wounded, two critically, on Saturday (6 June) in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment