NextFin news, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, that Poland will fully close its border with Belarus starting at midnight local time from Thursday to Friday. The decision was made in response to the upcoming joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises named Zapad-2025.
The Zapad-2025 maneuvers are planned to take place from September 12 to 16, 2025, on Belarusian territory and selected training grounds in Russia. According to official statements from Moscow and Minsk, the exercises aim to test the allies' capabilities in ensuring security and repelling potential aggression.
Prime Minister Tusk cited the military drills as the main reason for the border closure, emphasizing concerns over regional security. The closure will affect all border crossings between Poland and Belarus starting from the night of Thursday, September 11, to Friday, September 12.
Ukrainian military officials have expressed concerns that under the cover of these exercises, there could be a covert buildup of offensive troop groupings. The head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, warned of an intense information campaign originating from Russia during the exercises. Additionally, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, Andrii Kovalenko, have highlighted the potential for disinformation and military threats linked to the drills.
The announcement was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Reuters and corroborated by other international news outlets including Kyiv Post and POLITICO. The closure reflects Poland's precautionary measures amid heightened military activities by Russia and Belarus near its eastern border.
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