Russia is prepared to intervene militarily in Belarus, similarly to how it did in Ukraine, should the political situation in the former Soviet Republic head in a direction unwelcome by Russia, Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) Gen. Riho Terras told ERR in an interview.
“The purpose of Zapad and other military and joint exercises is to tie the Armed Forces of Belarus as closely as possible to the Russian Armed Forces,” Gen. Terras said, according to EER, adding that the goal is to “cripple Belarus' independent military capability.”
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The direction and planning of this operation began in 2014, according to the military official.
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It is symbolic that Russian President Putin visited the exercise in Russia specifically, although it has been stressed that the main focus was on joint exercises in Belarus. The exercise included various defense areas, Baltic and North Sea fleets, missile forces and special operations. If this is all being done as an anti-terror operation, then it is clear that these efforts are “excessive,” Gen. Terras said.