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India Participated in 9th Edition of Zapad 2025 Military Exercise in Russia and Belarus.

International | Dated: 13 Sep 2025

India took part in the 9th edition of the Zapad 2025 military exercise, a joint Russian-Belarusian drill, held from September 10–16, 2025, at the Mulino Training Ground in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and Belarusian training grounds. The exercise aims to strengthen defence cooperation and foster India-Russia ties.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The exercise aimed to strengthen cooperation among armies, provide a platform for exchange of tactics, procedures, and promote counter-terrorism coordination.
  • - Over 22 countries joined, including India, Bangladesh, Iran, Niger, Tajikistan, Burkina Faso, and others. Observer nations included Cambodia, China, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Pakistan, North Korea, and UAE.
  • - The previous edition of Zapad was held in 2021 across Russia and Belarus, continuing its historical role in simulating large-scale defensive and offensive operations.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Zapad (meaning "West") is a large-scale military exercise series conducted since 1977 by the Soviet Union and later Russia, usually held every four years. The 2025 edition was hosted jointly by Russia and Belarus.
  • (ii) India participated with 65 personnel, including 57 from the Indian Army, 7 from the Indian Air Force (IAF), and 1 from the Indian Navy. The contingent was led by a battalion of the Kumaon Regiment.
  • (iii) The 2025 drills, conducted in Belarus (September 12–16), tested defensive readiness against USA-led weapons systems, including advanced Oreshnik missiles. The focus remained on open/urban terrain operations, counter-terrorism, interoperability, and integration of emerging technologies.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which military exercise did India recently participate in, co-hosted by Russia and Belarus in September 2025?

Correct Answer: Zapad 2025

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Belarus

  • President : Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko
  • Capital : Minsk