American officers observed joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus on September 15th, 2025, with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin reportedly stating, "You can look at what interests you." This observation comes as the European Union is debating tighter restrictions on Russian tourist visas and diplomat travel ahead of the bloc’s 19th sanctions package. Frontline EU states, including Poland and the Baltics, are advocating for a complete visa ban for Russian citizens, while member states like Italy, Spain, and Greece are hesitant due to potential impacts on tourism revenue. Czechia is also leading a renewed effort to limit the movement of Russian diplomats within the Schengen zone due to ongoing espionage concerns. The European Commission is expected to release new visa guidance by the end of the year. Earlier on September 15th, 2025, a NATO Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft conducted aerial reconnaissance over Romania, focusing on the Crimean direction. The flight originated from NATO Sigonella and involved aerial refueling over Romanian territory from a KC-135R Stratotanker, according to the Crimean Wind Monitoring group. In related developments, Ukrainian drone manufacturers Vyriy and "Fourth Law" announced the launch of mass production for drones equipped with a new guidance system between 10:31 AM and 10:45 AM UTC.
