Russian training Zapad-2025 will also be highly dependent on the situation in the war in Ukraine / day

Pudan pointed out that these teachings have been taking place every four years since 2013, and the NAF is always worried about Russian statements that there would be such a volume training at the Latvian border.

On the one hand, the NAF understands that these are routine training, but all these years have activated additional actions for the study period, Pudan explained. This means collecting more in -depth intelligence information on the transfer of forces, as well as increased NAF readiness and organizing its training. Pudan also recalled that at the same time as Zapad’s training, the NAF’s « Namejs » will also take place, which raises the readiness of the armed forces.

He explained that, in addition, there were action plans for the NAF’s readiness, and the training plan has been changed to adapt and increase the army’s ability to respond. « Similarly, we see statements that such training has been announced, we try to understand which units they will physically involve. We have talked about it with international partners, a common approach, about exchange of information to look at it more deeply, » Pudan emphasized.

Similarly, the NAF will have different action plans to customize its measures, and the public may feel much more secure that these training is not used as a preparation phase, Pudan said. At the same time, he recalled that the minus of Latvia and Russia’s advantage at the same time is that the border of Latvia is so close, which, accordingly, creates the « advantage of surprise ».

« If we can reduce such a surprise everyday by seeing unexpected movement and placement of forces, it is harder to notice it if it is hidden with training, » Pudan said. It was already observed by the NAF in the spring of 2021 and 2022, when training was organized at the Ukrainian border outside the routine and testified to the non -standard situation and, accordingly, turned into an attack, he explained.

« What will be Zapad’s training in the fall will also depend highly on what is happening in Ukraine. We will definitely follow and have additional indicators to focus on, including the overloading of Russian military forces and returning from Ukraine, » Pudan emphasized.

As reported, the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD) stated in its recently released threat assessment and last year’s activity report that, at a full -scale invasion of Ukraine in the Russian armed forces, not only strategic but also operational tactical training, most likely related to the lack of staff and military equipment.

The report states that the Zapad-2025 training should be based on the territory of Belarus, but the scale and covered area will largely depend on the situation in the Russian war against Ukraine.