On September 15, the GSSC hosted the discussion “Zapad: Perceptions, Realities and Implications”. The event featured Živilė Dambrauskaitė, author of the study “Belarusian Attitudes Toward the Zapad War Games”, and Franak Viacorka, Chief Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Juljan Jachovič, Senior Area Manager at the GSSC.
The conversation addressed political and military goals of the “Zapad 2025” exercise and its broader implications for Belarus and regional security. Particular attention was given to the Belarusian society, including low military motivation, economic dependence on Russia, and the role of propaganda. This discussion also emphasised the importance of societal resilience, mobility of the Belarusian diaspora, and democratic aspirations in shaping the country’s future.