Poland will deploy around 40,000 soldiers to its eastern border in the coming days, a sharp increase from the previous 10,000, in response to the upcoming Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 military exercises set to begin in Belarus on September 12. Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk announced the move on Wednesday evening, emphasizing that Warsaw had been preparing for months for what it views as a major security challenge.
Tomczyk said Poland and NATO needed a strong presence on the border to adequately respond to the Russian and Belarusian drills, which he described as offensive in nature. He noted that the exercises are taking place in the same region where the war in Ukraine began, underscoring the risks posed to regional security. The deputy minister also linked the recent violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones on the night of September 9–10 to the Zapad-2025 drills, adding that 19 drones entered Polish territory, with those posing threats shot down.
The incident has sparked international concern. While Russia denied responsibility, claiming the drones were not military, Belarus said it had informed Poland and Lithuania about drones that had “got lost.” In response, Ukraine pledged to assist Poland in enhancing its warning system, while the European Union strongly condemned the airspace violations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the drone incursions “a serious escalation of Russia’s actions, an aggressive and reckless act that threatens the security of EU citizens, regional stability, and international peace.”
