The Importance of the Zapad 2017 Exercises
The Importance of the Zapad 2017 Exercises

Author(s): Patrycja Sasnal
Subject(s): Security and defense, Military policy, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Belarus; Russia; armed forces; Security
Summary/Abstract: The Zapad 2017 Russian military exercises were just one element of an extensive plan to checking its armed forces’ combat readiness. At the same time, the exercises were used to test the experience gained by the Russian army in combat operations in Ukraine and Syria, and to practise full-scale conventional conflict. The manoeuvres proved that, according to the strategic documents of Russia and Belarus (including the Treaty on the Union State of Russia and Belarus), the Belarusian army would, in the event of war, become a de facto part of the Russian military.

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