"The Russians Are Trying To Hide The Number Of Troops In Belarus"

What's happening ahead of the West 2025 exercise.

The joint strategic exercise of the armed forces of Belarus and Russia "Zapad-2025" will be held from September 12 to 16, 2025. Many experts believe that the Kremlin may use the "Zapad-2025" exercise for provocations against the Baltic States.

What to expect from the Russian-Belarusian maneuvers? This is the question Charter97.org asked by Maksim Pleshko, candidate of philosophical sciences, head of the Ukrainian Center for Belarusian Communications:

- As part of preparations for the "West-2025" exercises, many Russian troops have already entered Belarus. They are trying to hide their number, because if there are more than 13 thousand, UN observers must be present.

Russian specialists - reconnaissance, UAVs and others - are already accommodated, renting apartments. And often in cities bordering the EU. There is information that they do not behave in the best way there, treating Belarusians in a condescending manner: they say that we are fighting for the Fatherland, while you are sitting back. There are negative tendencies. The Russians try to hide the presence of troops in Belarus: they disperse them to different firing ranges, place them on civilian facilities. But it is impossible to hide the scale.

The main interest for Ukraine is the reduction or complete absence of Russian troops on the territory of Belarus. Because they pose a threat to Ukraine, the EU countries and the Belarusians themselves. This is a factor that draws Belarus into the danger and possibility of war. We can see from the drones and the current situation that Belarus has already been drawn in, with troops standing on its territory. In general, the presence of Russian troops in Belarus is definitely undesirable for Ukraine. It is important for us that it should be less.

Even under Lukashenko's regime, Belarus should be as far away from the Kremlin as possible. And in the strategic perspective, I repeat, Ukraine's national interest is a free, democratic Belarus, oriented towards Europe and friendly to Ukraine.

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