The Russian and Belarusian military authorities have announced the commencement of the Zapad-2025 exercise, which will take place from September 12 to 16. This marks the first such military drills between the two nations since the invasion of Ukraine. The participating force is estimated to number approximately 13,000 soldiers, a substantial decrease from the 200,000 troops involved in the previous Zapad drills in 2021. The exercise is expected to focus on various aspects of military coordination and readiness, with potential implications for regional security dynamics.