Warsaw responds to Sapad-2025 military exercise by closing border

Poland will close its border with Belarus on Thursday night—including for rail traffic.

The reason for this is the “Sapad-2025” military exercises being held by Russia and Belarus near the Polish border.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the maneuvers as “extremely aggressive” from a military doctrine perspective.

Poland had already reduced border crossings with Belarus to a minimum.

The announced closure further exacerbates tensions between Warsaw and Minsk – a conflict that has been escalating since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Belarusian media reported the arrest of a Polish citizen suspected of espionage in connection with the exercises.

According to the Ministry of Defense in Minsk, “Sapad-2025” also includes scenarios for the possible use of nuclear weapons and “Oresnik” hypersonic missiles.

In response, NATO announced parallel maneuvers on its side of the border. Neither the Russian nor the Belarusian embassy in Warsaw has yet commented on the situation.

(reuters, red)