Russian-Belarussian military exercise threatens Ukraine and others.

The joint Russian-Belarusian combat training, known as Zapad, is held every four years. This year, in light of the most recent developments resulting in heightened tensions, Zapad-2021, carried out on 10-16 September, has posed a potential threat to neighboring states including Ukraine because of the buildup of military forces there. Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia have declared a state of emergency along their border with Belarus. All three countries have seen a huge increase in the number of irregular migrants trying to cross illegally into their countries with the help of the Belarusian authorities. Belarus’ dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko has worsened matters by announcing that Belarus would buy $1 billion worth of Russian military equipment over the next four years.