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NATO on Alert as Russia and Belarus Conduct Mock Nuclear Strikes in Zapad-2025 Exercises

NATO on Alert as Russia and Belarus Conduct Mock Nuclear Strikes in Zapad-2025 Exercises

Russia and Belarus conducted a simulated nuclear strike as part of their joint military exercises, Zapad-2025, which this year are being monitored by delegations from several NATO nations, including the U.S.

Starting on Friday and concluding on Tuesday, these drills are designed to evaluate the capacity of Belarus and Russia to defend against enemy assaults and reclaim territory that may have been lost, as reported by the Belarusian Defense Ministry. The Zapad-2025 exercises have raised concerns among NATO members, particularly in Eastern Europe, where Poland and nearby nations undertook their own military activities earlier this summer.

General Pavel Muraveiko of Belarus mentioned that the exercises involved “planning and assessing the potential application of non-strategic nuclear weapons, along with the evaluation and deployment of the Oreshnik mobile missile system.”

The Oreshnik, a hypersonic ballistic missile, was initially presented by Russia during a strike on Ukraine last November and is viewed by many analysts as more of a political show than a showcase of a groundbreaking weapon. Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko subsequently requested that Moscow deploy the missile system in Belarus due to perceived threats from NATO countries such as Poland, Lithuania, and Germany.

Muraveiko noted that Russian forces contributed their insights and experiences from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, specifically in areas like drone warfare and combat in urban settings. The training also involved operations to assault urban locations and counter “illegal armed groups,” he added.

Belarusian officials had previously stated that this year’s exercises would be more limited and conducted further into the country. They reported the participation of approximately 13,000 troops, a stark reduction from the around 200,000 present during the last Zapad exercise in 2021, which took place before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Contrasting his own officials, President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected appearance at the drills in Belarus on Tuesday and asserted that the number of participating soldiers is 100,000.

According to The Times, India contributed 65 soldiers, as confirmed by India’s Defense Ministry. New Delhi’s ties with Moscow have strengthened, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump recently imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods due to the country’s continued purchase of Russian oil.

Russian news outlets have reported that soldiers from Iran, Bangladesh, and countries including Burkina Faso, Congo, and Mali also took part in the exercises.

Belarus extended invitations to observers from nine NATO member states and other nations to promote “openness and transparency.” On Monday, the Belarusian Defense Ministry unveiled footage of two U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonels shaking hands with Belarus’s Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin.

These exercises are taking place amid growing tensions between NATO and Russia, exacerbated by Poland’s announcement last week that it had intercepted Russian drones entering its airspace during extensive strikes on western Ukraine.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk characterized Zapad-2025 as “very aggressive” and expressed concerns over the drills occurring “very close” to Poland’s borders. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia might leverage the exercises as a pretext for launching another offensive from Belarus.

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It’s great that part of the proceeds go to support participants of the special military operation. The perfect gift for patriots!”writesYekaterina, a recent buyer. Other reviewers share that they gave the game to their sons on Defenders of the Fatherland Day. Another board game, “Couch Expert,” promises to educate players about the invasion. Players have 30 seconds to answer questions about the progress of the “special operation.” Questions range from the late ultranationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s position on the war to the roles of figures like Elon Musk and propagandist Olga Skabeyeva in shaping сoverage of the invasion. “I ordered 11 of them for school as gifts for the boys. But I got lucky — the boxes came wrapped in film, so it’s not embarrassing to give them. Thanks,”writesa woman named Natalia in a review. These toys span all price ranges, from an acrylic Z-minionto aroly-polytoy bearing the pro-war slogan “You can’t knock us down.” The latter sells for about 500 rubles ($6). “The idea to create a patriotic roly-poly toy came five years ago, when the Russian team was banned from competing under the national flag at the Olympics in Korea,”saysDmitry Zavidov, director of the Kotovsky Roly-Polies company. On VKontakte, Yulia from Moscowsells“knitted fighters” shaped like a tiger, mouse or dog. Each animal, stitched with a Z or V,costs1,500 rubles ($18). For an extra 250 rubles, Yulia offers to embroider a soldier’s callsign on the toy’s flak vest. “Any other inscription of your choice is also possible (price depends on the size),”readsthe product description. On some marketplaces, similar toys arepricedat around 1,100 rubles ($14). Another item on the market is a stuffedraccoonmarked with the Z symbol, a reference to the raccoon that Russian troops infamously stole from a zoo during their retreat from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Sellers alsoofferstuffed bears in military uniforms with Z and V insignia. In some cases, the toys arehandmadeby widows of Russian soldiers. For younger children, “patriotic”coloring bookssell for about 300 rubles ($3.73). “My child is four. He liked it,” says one mother in a review. Some parents post videos of their children coloring tanks and other Russian military equipment. For about the same price, sellers alsooffera set of toy soldiers called the “Special Operation Recon Soldiers Set.” “Toy figures of the Russian Armed Forces will delight children with their quality and design. They’re perfect for role-playing games and help develop creativity and imagination,” the manufacturer claims. 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They’ll buy it without even noticing the Z, especially if it’s on sale.” Marketplaces also offer stuffed cat car decorations in camouflage colors that cost about 500 rubles ($6.20). In addition to a toy with the Russian tricolor and the letter Z, the manufacturer alsooffersa version bearing the Wagner mercenary group’s skull emblem. “You sent me a female cat, apparently — no male features and no Z. I specifically needed a male cat with a Z on it! I refused the order at pickup,”complainsa buyer named Elena. Other buyers note that the toy’s tail fell off quickly. Even toy robots are marked with the Z symbol. A set of these toys costing 784 rubles ($9.70) includes a robot with a Russian flag and weapons. For an extra 200 rubles, itcomeswith a glow-in-the-dark Z. “Satisfied with the purchase. Russia will win! Russia always wins!”saysMaria, who bought the Z-robot for her son, in her review.

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