Belarus, Russia advance in war games

Russia is mobilizing as many as 200,000 troops in war games with Belarus, including thousands along their borders with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as Moscow tightens military links with its isolated ally.

Citing what he called “unending hybrid aggression from the West toward Belarus and Russia,” Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told troops Sunday at the Zapad-2021 war games that “we are preparing to defend our land.” He said he’s seeking new weapons from Russia, including advanced air-defense systems and warplanes.

“The big volumes show how seriously we and the Russian Federation take this Western direction, where we are very close to NATO troops,” Lukashenko said.

Russia has tightened its embrace of its longtime ally in the year since Lukashenko’s harsh crackdown on anti-government protests triggered a wave of western sanctions and other pressure on his government. In talks in Moscow last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged more financial support and tighter economic ties, but Lukashenko said much of the eight hours of discussion was devoted to military cooperation.

Putin last week said the two leaders had committed to joint defense of their “Union State” and its borders with NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

Lukashenko said that by 2025 he wants dozens of new warplanes and helicopters from Russia. Belarus lacks the funds to pay for such deliveries, but Moscow has in the past offered discounted loans to weapons buyers.

The Zapad-2021 maneuvers are taking place mostly in western Russia and involve as many as 200,000 troops, as well as 80 warplanes and helicopters, 760 armored vehicles and 15 ships, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry.