Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Mulino training ground to watch the active phase of the Zapad 2025 joint strategic drills. The exercises, held from September 12–16 across 41 land and sea ranges in Russia and Belarus, are aimed at testing the two countries’ ability to repel an attack on the Union State. Around 100,000 troops are participating in the war games. As Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, Putin also inspected the weapons and equipment deployed in the drills.