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A top Belarusian defense official has announced that Belarus and Russia will conduct joint military exercises next month involving simulated nuclear weapons drills.

Getting into it: The upcoming joint drills, dubbed “Zapad-2025,” will take place from September 12 to 16 in Belarus and are being framed as a major component of both countries’ strategic defense planning. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, speaking at a press conference in Minsk, said, “This is an important element of our strategic deterrence. As the head of state demands, we must be prepared for anything.”

Khrenin also made clear that the drills will include simulated scenarios for the use of tactical nuclear weapons, reflecting what he described as a necessary evolution in Belarus’ military doctrine. “We see the situation on our western and northern borders and cannot calmly watch the militarization and military activity. We demonstrate openness and peaceful intent, but powder should always be kept dry.” According to Khrenin, the drills will focus on coordinating air defense systems, counter-sabotage operations, and the deployment of joint troop formations to ensure the security of both countries.

A centerpiece of the exercises will be training on the Oreshnik missile system, a newly developed Russian intermediate-range hypersonic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The Oreshnik (which was first used in late 2024 in Dnipro, Ukraine) is designed to travel at speeds significantly faster than conventional ballistic missiles, making it exceptionally difficult to intercept.

President Alexander Lukashenko recently confirmed that Belarus would receive the system by the end of 2025, calling it a “game-changing” addition to the country’s defense capability.