The Ukrainian president said that of the 19 Russian drones who were traveling to Poland overnight on Wednesday, Russian drones crossed overnight.
“At least two Russian drones that entered Polish territory in the middle of the night used Belarus airspace,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“In total, at least dozens of Russian drones were moving along the Ukraine-Belarus border.”
On Wednesday, Ukrainian air defense destroyed more than 380 Russian drones in various models. At least 250 was Shahed.
Kiev is currently investigating details of the types of drones and Russian attacks, Zelensky added that Ukraine is ready to “expand cooperation with partners for reliable protection of the sky.”
What do Russia and Belarus say?
The Russian Ministry of Defense said it had no plans to attack Polish targets during the attack on Ukraine.
“The target of Polish territory is not planning to target. The maximum range (Ukraine) of UAVs used in strikes (Ukraine) will not exceed 700km.”
Moscow added that it is ready to “consult with the Polish Ministry of Defense on this subject.”
Belarus said the drone “accidentally” entered Polish airspace after the navigation system got clogged.
Belarus’ Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Muraviaika claimed that the UAV “losed a way” and that Belarus itself had shot down its own territory.
In a video on the telegram channel of the official Belarus province, Murabieika said from 11pm to 4am, his own army, Poland and Lithuania, shared information through the “communication channels” of lost drones.
The attack comes just days before Poland plans to close its border with Belarus, as the Polish prime minister called it a “very aggressive” military exercise between Russia and Belarus.
What is Zapad-2025?
Zapad – meaning “west” in Russian – is a joint military exercise by the Russian Berals, usually held every four years in September. This time, the drill is scheduled to begin on September 12th.
The drill was first launched in 2009, coordinating and training regional military groups, combining the military forces of the Western Military District, combining Belarusian troops with Russian Guard No. 20.
NATO claims that officially reported figures are suspicious and suspect their purpose, but all Zapad operations reportedly involve troops of between 12,000 and 13,000 people.
However, previous exercises showed that Moscow and Minsk were set in fictional scenarios that either creepyly resemble real-world countries in their neighborhoods or show plans for the future.
For example, the Zapad-2017 drill featured three fictional states similar to the Baltic states, Bethbaria, Ruvenia and Beisnolia, which resemble Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and included the territory of Swarki Gap, a land area separating the Kariinrad region from the Russian range in western Belaru.
September 2021 – Just a few months before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow claimed that 12,800 soldiers had joined Zapad-2021 on Belarusian territory.
The total number of troops in the area actually was around 200,000. In February 2022, Russia used troops that remained in Belarus after the exercise was completed to attack Ukraine from Belarusian territory.
Poland closes Belarus border
Even before Wednesday’s drone attack, Poland announced it would close its border with Belarus in the middle of September 11th, regarding security concerns related to a massive Russian-led military exercise, Prime Minister Donald Tass said.
“On Friday, Russia’s Belarus operations have been very aggressive in terms of military doctrine, beginning in Belarus and very close to the Polish border,” Tass told the government on Tuesday.
“Therefore, for national security reasons, we will close the border with Belarus, including the railway crossing, in connection with the midnight Zapad operation on Thursday.”
Polish President Karol Naulocki warned that he “does not trust Vladimir Putin’s good intentions.”
“Of course, I believe that while I wait for the long-term peace and lasting peace that our region needs, Vladimir Putin is ready to invade other countries as well.”
Lithuania also announced that it will strengthen its safety along its frontiers with Belarus and Russia.
The new military base is reportedly under construction in Belarus
New military facilities are reportedly being built in Belarus, and analysts warn that the ongoing war with Ukraine could retain strategic importance to Russia.
Construction began in June 2024, south of Minsk near the village of Pavlovka, according to Radio Svoboda. Today, the site spans over two square kilometres.
Experts believe the complex will be able to accommodate Russia’s new Olesik ballistic missile system.
Within a year, more than a square kilometre had been cleared from the western forests of the region, with 13 ammunition depots being built behind 30 x 20 meters behind the walls, with three warehouses, each 100 meters.
The foundations of various other buildings were also laid, linked primarily by a network of paved roads.
Belarusian officials have not recognized the project. No official documents or land registration records mention the base.
A joint investigation by Ukrainian radio Svoboda “Schemes” project, Radio Liberty Belarus Services, and Estonian outlet Delfi Estonia and Eesti Ekspress also discovered a second new facility on the outskirts of Gomer, less than 40 km from the Ukrainian border.
Journalists believe this is the future military base. Construction began here late in 2023, with trees cut down, sites cleared and infrastructure actively built.
The size and infrastructure of the facility corresponds to existing military bases in Belarus, so it could accommodate an army brigade of around 3,000 staff.