Russia and Belarus unexpectedly cut military exercises. ISW explains reason

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that russia and Belarus have scaled back the scale of the joint Zapad-2025 exercises and moved the main actions away from the western border of Belarus. The reason is limited military resources due to the russian federation's war against Ukraine.

This is stated in the ISW report.

According to analysts, such actions are likely aimed at "creating the appearance of cooperation and diverting attention from russia's limited military potential outside the front in Ukraine." It is also emphasized that "Belarus would not have been able to make this decision without russia."

Earlier, official Minsk announced plans to involve at least 13,000 military personnel in the exercises. ISW suggests that the reduction in the scale of the exercises is due to the fact that "most of the forces are fighting in Ukraine."

In particular, the joint maneuvers Zapad-2021 involved units of the 1st Guards Tank Army of the russian federation, the 20th Combined Arms Army, the 6th Airborne Army, as well as approximately 4,000 paratroopers from the 7th, 76th, 98th and 106th divisions. Most of them are currently involved in hostilities in Ukraine.

ISW also recalls that in 2023 Moscow "suddenly canceled the exercises Zapad-2023, most likely due to russia's needs for weapons and human resources for the war in Ukraine."