Russian drones have recently invaded Polish airspace, drawing condemnation and protests from many European countries. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday regarding this issue. US President Trump said on the 11th that the Russian drones entering Poland "might have been a mistake," which was refuted by Poland. This Friday, Russia announced the start of a five-day joint strategic exercise with Belarus. Countries such as Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia are particularly concerned.

Image source: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP Photo/picture alliance. A Russian nuclear submarine participating in the joint military exercise between Russia and Belarus "Zapad-2025."

Close to 20 Russian drones invaded Polish airspace from September 9 to the night of September 10. Warsaw stated that Polish and Dutch fighter jets, with the assistance of Italian, German, and NATO forces, successfully repelled this "aggression." According to information released by the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs on the 11th, 16 pieces of Russian drone wreckage were found. This is the first time that Russian drones have been shot down over NATO territory.

On the 10th, the Polish Foreign Minister stated that there was no doubt that this incident was not an accident; it was not only an "unprecedented attack" on Poland, but also on NATO and EU territories. Polish Prime Minister Tusk stated on the 10th that although this drone incident did not cause any casualties, the nature of the action was the closest to "going to war" since World War II. Poland requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and applied for an emergency consultation within NATO. As requested by Poland, the UN Security Council will hold the relevant meeting in New York on Friday, September 12.

On the evening of the 10th, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kallas, issued a formal statement on behalf of the EU, strongly condemning the Russian drones' "intentional" entry into the airspace of EU member states. German Chancellor Merkel, British Prime Minister Starmer, and French President Macron all condemned the Russian drones entering Polish airspace. Several European countries, including Spain and Italy, also issued statements condemning the Russian drones' intrusion into Polish airspace.

Czech Republic said on the 10th, at the request of Poland, it is prepared to send a special operations helicopter unit to Poland. On the 11th, the German government stated that as part of Europe's efforts to strengthen NATO's eastern flank, the German Federal Armed Forces will "expand and extend" air surveillance over Polish airspace.

Trump: It Might Be a Mistake

On the 11th, US President Trump stated at a press conference that the Russian drones entering Poland "might be a mistake." He expressed dissatisfaction with the development of events but hoped the situation would calm down. In response, Polish Prime Minister Tusk posted on social media platform X, saying, "We also hope that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it is not the case. We know that." On Friday, visiting Kyiv, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski responded to Trump's comments, stating, "That night, 19 Russian drones crossed the border into Poland, and 400 (drones) and 40 missiles crossed the border into Ukraine. These are not mistakes."

Russia and Belarus Conduct 'Zapad-2025' Military Exercise on NATO's Eastern Flank

On Friday, September 12, the Moscow Defense Department announced the start of a five-day joint strategic exercise between the Russian and Belarusian armed forces. The exercise is named "Zapad-2025" (Zapad-2025). "Zapad" means "West" in Russian and is also known as the "Zapad-2025" exercise. According to Belarus, most of the exercise will take place near a city east of its capital Minsk by next Tuesday. The Russian military stated that some "real" exercises will also be conducted within Russia as well as in the Barents Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Image source: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP Photo/picture alliance. The Russian Navy's "Admiral Ustinov" missile cruiser participating in the joint military exercise between Russia and Belarus.

According to Russian media reports, more than 13,000 people participated in the exercise. However, analysts believe the actual number of participants may be higher. The Lithuanian intelligence agency estimates that another 30,000 soldiers are participating in the exercise within Russia. In addition to the forces of Russia and Belarus, soldiers from friendly countries in Africa and Central Asia are also involved. India seems to be sending a small symbolic force of about 60 people.

Belarus had previously announced that this exercise includes the use of Russia's new hypersonic "Olesnik" missile. Russia plans to deploy this missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, in Belarus.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that these exercises are "planned and not directed at anyone." However, NATO member states Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia are particularly concerned because the exercise is held close to their borders. These three countries have strengthened their security measures. Poland has also ordered the complete closure of the border with Belarus during the exercise. In response, Moscow called on Warsaw to "reconsider" this decision and condemned its "hostile actions."

Poland's Prime Minister Tusk stated that the exercise named "Zapad-2025" will also simulate the occupation of the so-called Suwalki Gap. This area is located on the Polish-Lithuanian border, north of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, and south of Belarus. It is considered a weak point of NATO and could be the primary target for a Russian attack.

The last time Russia held an exercise named "Zapad" was in 2021. At that time, the Kremlin used the exercise to deploy over 200,000 military personnel and a large amount of equipment near the Ukrainian border, preparing for an attack on Kyiv.

Image source: Russian Defence Ministry/AFP. Russian soldiers participating in the "Zapad-2025" military exercise between Russia and Belarus.

German security expert Nico Lange believes that the deployment of Russian drones into Polish airspace aims to test Western reactions, reconnaissance of Western air defense systems, and monitoring of their military movements. He warned that there will be more exercises in the future: "In the past, Russia was able to seamlessly transition from exercises to war. At least, it will leave supplies and ammunition in Belarus as a pre-deployment for subsequent actions."

NATO is responding to Russia's "Zapad-2025" exercise with a series of military exercises. Poland is currently conducting the largest military exercise to date, "Iron Defender-25," with 30,000 soldiers from Poland and its allies participating. At the same time, the joint military exercise "Thunder Strike" is being held in Lithuania, with approximately 17,000 soldiers from Lithuania and other NATO countries participating. Experts from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (DGAP) suggest that in order to further enhance deterrence against Moscow, future exercises should be integrated into a large-scale joint military exercise.

Sources: DW, translated from AFP and Spiegel Online

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7549255157989556755/

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