"Russia and Belarus say war games are meant to be a show of force designed to test combat readiness. Russia has practised launching cruise missiles over the Barents Sea during joint military exercises with Belarus codenamed Zapad (West), according to Russia's Ministry of Defence. The neighbouring allies were wrapping up five days of war games on Tuesday in a show of force they said is designed to test their combat readiness."
"The drills took place just days after Polish and NATO forces shot down drones violating Polish airspace during Russia's biggest-ever aerial barrage against neighbouring Ukraine. Polish airspace has been violated many times since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but never on this scale anywhere in NATO territory. Wednesday's incident was the first time a NATO member is known to have fired shots during Russia's war in Ukraine."
"Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers also performed combat training missions amid heightened tensions with NATO countries after Moscow's alleged violations of Polish and Romanian airspace. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that nuclear-capable bombers rehearsed launching cruise missiles as they flew over neutral waters of the Barents Sea, north of Scandinavia, for about four hours while being escorted by MiG-31 fighter jets. Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin was due to observe another part of the Zapad exercises at a training ground in Russia later on Tuesday, his ministry said."
Russia and Belarus held five days of joint Zapad war games involving about 7,000 soldiers, including 6,000 Belarusians. Exercises included rehearsals of launching cruise missiles over the Barents Sea and Tu-160 strategic bomber combat training missions escorted by MiG-31 fighters. The drills followed incidents in which Polish and NATO forces shot down drones during Russia's largest aerial barrage against Ukraine and reported airspace violations over Poland and Romania. Poland temporarily closed its border with Belarus as a precaution. Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin was scheduled to observe additional exercise elements at a Russian training ground.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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