The Latest Breaking News from Belarus

Here are the key events on day 1,300 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Moscow and Minsk insist, however, that the drills are defensive, adding that Western security concerns are ‘nonsense’.

As western media receive rare invite, visit by US officials raises fears Trump is unwilling to take hard line on Moscow

IN FOCUS: Multiples countries in the alliance have reported incursions by drones into their airspace in recent months, James C. Reynolds reports

The 52 prisoners freed last Thursday in a US-brokered deal with Belarus were sent to Vilnius, Lithuania. Among those freed was Mikalai Statkevich, a prominent opposition leader who refused to leave Belarus and is now missing.

Poland and allies denounce Russian drones entering Polish airspace; Warsaw said it will station about 40,000 troops near the Belarus border during drills. What we know on day 1,298

Belarus has forcibly deported political prisoners released in a U.S.-led deal, according to opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

IN FULL

Poland closed all border crossings with Belarus as the joint Russia-Belarus military exercises Zapad-2025 begin at NATO’s doorstep. Moscow and Minks claim the drills simulate repelling an attack against Russia and Belarus. But Zapad-2021 masked Russia’s preparations for its invasion of Ukraine.

The manoeuvres come two days after the unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by Russian attack drones

In the years since Russia invaded Ukraine, NATO has focused on defending its own territory first and resisted lower-level harassment from Russia, like acts of sabotage and intimidation