Overview

• Russia and Belarus opened the Sapad 2025 exercise near NATO borders through September 16, with Bundeswehr estimates of about 13,000 troops in Belarus and 30,000 in Russia.
• Officials indicated exercise elements include training related to nuclear-capable systems, with Belarus citing the Russian Oreschnik medium-range missile.
• Poland closed crossings with Belarus and restricted near-border airspace, and Latvia shut its eastern-border airspace until at least September 18 as a precaution.
• Germany doubled its Eurofighters over Poland and extended the mission to year-end, while France said it will send three Rafale jets to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank.
• Poland reported at least 19 Russian-origin drones entered its airspace on September 10, with three shot down and two crashing, and dpa cited NATO circles saying at least one flew toward the Rzeszów Ukraine-aid hub.