Illia Kabachynskyi

For more than two months, Russian drones and missiles have been striking Ukraine’s railway infrastructure. Major stations, terminals, trains, and power substations have been hit. Since the first day of Russia’s full-scale war, the railway has been both a symbol of resilience and Ukraine’s only artery capable of sustaining large-scale, constant logistics.

Russia has already invaded Ukraine from Belarusian soil, and today missiles stationed there—potentially including the intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik one that Russia plans to test—give the Kremlin the capacity to strike across Europe.

Zapad 2021 ended with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Zapad 2017 rehearsed the capture of the Baltics. Zapad 2013 foreshadowed Russia’s aggression in Crimea. Zapad 2009 simulated a nuclear strike on Poland. What will Zapad 2025 bring?

To shoot down Russian Shahed drones that entered NATO airspace, Poland and neighboring countries scrambled their air forces. Among the possible targets was the American contingent stationed in Poland.

For the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has carried out a direct strike on Ukraine’s government quarter, hitting the Cabinet of Ministers building and destroying part of its upper floors.