Russia and its key ally Belarus began major joint military drills early Friday, putting Nato on edge days after Poland accused Moscow of escalating tensions by firing attack drones through its airspace.
The “Zapad” exercises also come as Russian forces grind across the sprawling front line in Ukraine and escalate aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Nato’s eastern flank members that border Belarus – Poland, Lithuania and Latvia – are on high alert over the drills, which Belarus says will be held near Borisov, a town east of the capital Minsk.
All three countries have ramped up security ahead of the exercises, with Poland ordering the complete closure of its border with Belarus for their duration.
On Friday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that this week’s drone incursions were not a mistake by Russia, despite US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the incident could have been accidental.
“We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it,” Tusk said on X.
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