Russia and Belarus are carrying out joint military exercises known as Zapad-2025, taking place from September 12 to 16, 2025, which have raised major international concern because they include drills with tactical nuclear weapons.
According to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian nuclear weapons deployed on Belarusian territory are being used as part of these exercises, marking an unprecedented level of military cooperation between the two countries since the start of the war in Ukraine. Official sources reported that the maneuvers include simulated launches of nuclear-capable missiles, rehearsals of responses to nuclear attacks, and logistical tests for transporting and securing warheads.
One of the most striking elements of these drills has been the practice use of the Russian hypersonic missile “Oreshnik,” which has been described by official media as capable of carrying nuclear payloads and, according to reports, could be permanently deployed in Belarus by the end of 2025. Both Moscow and Minsk have insisted that these exercises are strictly defensive in nature and not aimed at any particular country, although several NATO nations have voiced concern and labeled the maneuvers as a provocative escalation that threatens
European stability. The Zapad-2025 exercises represent a new flashpoint in the international security landscape and confirm the growing strategic alignment between Russia and Belarus against the West.
