Poland announced it will close its border with Belarus starting at midnight Thursday due to the Russian and Belarusian military exercises “Zapad 2025”. Prime Minister Donald Tusk cited “aggressive manoeuvres” near Polish territory as the main reason for the closure.
“For national security reasons, we will close the border with Belarus, including railway crossings,” Tusk said during a government meeting.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski added that the border would reopen only once authorities were confident there was “no more threat to Polish citizens.”
Recent Drone Incidents Raise Tensions
On Wednesday night, Iranian-made Shahed drones entered Polish airspace, some being shot down while others caused no damage. Officials said the drones could be testing NATO’s air defense capabilities or performing reconnaissance functions.
The incidents have escalated tensions between Poland, Russia, and Belarus, prompting heightened security along the eastern frontier.
🚨 Zapad-2025: Poland has closed its border with Belarus amid rising tensions as Russia conducts Zapad-2025 drills.
Recently, Iranian-made Shahed drones entered Polish airspace, with some shot down and others causing no damage.
The situation is escalating between Poland,… pic.twitter.com/Njz6xuBo16
— LoudFact (@loudfactcom) September 10, 2025
Zapad 2025: Scale and Participation
The Zapad 2025 exercises, starting Friday, will be conducted in Belarus and western Russia near NATO’s eastern border. These drills are designed to test military readiness and interoperability between Russian and Belarusian forces. This year, contingents from over 20 countries, including India, Iran, and China, are participating.
NATO Concerns Over Russian Drills
NATO has criticized Zapad 2025 for its scale and lack of transparency. Past exercises have reportedly underreported troop numbers to bypass OSCE monitoring rules. Western officials also note that Russia has used similar exercises as cover for military operations, including the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The drills have included scenarios involving tactical nuclear weapons and missile systems like the Russian Oreshnik, highlighting Moscow’s deterrence posture. Neighboring Lithuania has reinforced its border, while NATO conducts parallel exercises in Poland and Lithuania this month.
Diplomatic Fallout With Belarus
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry summoned Poland’s chargé d’affaires to protest the border closure, calling it “an abuse of its geographical position” and claiming it caused significant difficulties. Belarus also reported the arrest of a Polish national accused of espionage related to the drills.
Tusk said Polish authorities had recently arrested a Belarusian spy and would expel a diplomat who “supported the aggressive action of the Belarusian state against Poland.” He credited Czech and Romanian cooperation for the intelligence breakthrough.
Regional Escalation Risks
Other countries have responded to Zapad 2025 as well. The Czech Republic expelled a Belarusian diplomat for espionage, and Romania launched an investigation into a former Moldovan intelligence chief. Meanwhile, France appointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, though unrelated to the drills.
NATO officials warn that the timing and scale of Zapad 2025 increase the risk of escalation along the alliance’s eastern flank.
