Budanov Warns: Russia Prepares Massive Information Attack During Zapad-2025 Exercises
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, issued a significant warning regarding upcoming military exercises planned across Belarus and Russia under the name Zapad-2025.
According to him, starting September 12, a large-scale and targeted information campaign is expected, aimed at destabilizing the situation around the upcoming drills.
This campaign will include numerous fake news spreads and provocations.
He shared these insights at the international forum “Information Warfare: From Resistance to Resilience,” emphasizing that most disinformation will originate from Russia, with only a minor portion coming from other sources.Budanov highlighted that these exercises are not solely military drills but also a strategic display of potential future scenarios in the western region.
They are intended to simulate possible military actions that could be used if conflicts escalate, sending a symbolic message primarily to the Baltic states and the European Union countries.
He warned that with the onset of active phases of these exercises, the Baltic countries will face intense informational pressure, accompanied by widespread disinformation, provocations, and fake news campaigns.
From September 12 to 16, joint Russian-Belarusian military drills «Zapad-2025» will take place on Belarusian territory, involving over 13,000 troops.
Importantly, Belarusian authorities have previously announced plans to use nuclear weapons during these exercises and have discussed deploying the so-called “Oresnik” system.Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia might be preparing for active military actions in Belarus in 2025, using military drills as a cover to strengthen its military presence in the region.
These developments indicate an intention to build a large military force capable of altering the regional security landscape.
Ukrainian intelligence urges neighboring countries to remain vigilant and consider the geopolitical implications of these maneuvers, as they could trigger a chain of escalations in military and information warfare, with serious consequences for regional and international stability.