Large areas in the Barents Sea have been sealed off as Russia and Belarus start their major joint exercise. […]
Russia has over the last ten years significantly strengthened its military presence at Franz Josef Land, the country’s northernmost archipelago. The Nagurskoye base now includes an airfield and facilities for a significant number of troops. The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is about 400 km away.
The training at Franz Josef Land started shortly before Zapad-2025, the major Russian-Belarus strategic exercise that officially started on September 12. Drills are planned not only on shooting ranges in Belarus, but also in the Baltic Sea and the Barents Sea, the Russian armed forces inform.
Shortly after the troops were landed in Franz Josef Land, the Navy reported that several ships had set out from the Northern Fleet bases in the Kola Peninsula. Among them were destroyers Marshal Ustinov and Admiral Levchenko and frigates Admiral Golovko, mine sweepers and submarines.
Major areas in the Barents Sea have been closed off in connection with the drills. Russian authorities have issued NOTAMs and warnings to ships across the region, including an area south of the Franz Josef Land. […]
The exercise, which will include at least 13,000 thousand troops, comes amidst Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the loss of several hundred thousand Russian men.
The Zapad-2025 is reported to include participation of forces also from several more countries, including Iran and India. It is not clear whether the foreign troops will take part in drills in the Barents Sea. In the run-up to the exercise, tensions between Russia and western neighbors have spiked following Russia’s launch of drones into Polish air space. Läs artikel