Prepare roads for throwing equipment: NATO is alarmed because of Russia's aggressive position - the media

About it reports Financial Times. "We live in truly dangerous times and at a time when a large-scale conflict is more likely than ever in recent history," said a representative of British military intelligence. Another British military official stated that militant "intentions of Russia still exist. " "Its land troops in Ukraine have been degraded, but its military-air and naval forces have not undergone losses, and Russia remains a great nuclear state," he said.

One of the sources of concern to Western officials, as noted in the publication, is the restoration of Russia's defense sector in the last year with unexpected speeds that have previously been considered impossible in the West. Yes, in just one year the aggressor country has released 4 million artillery shells and several hundred tanks. According to Ukrainian officials, this year Russia mobilizes another 400,000 people without resorting to a full -scale conscription.

In addition, the publication notes that NATO European Member States have increased their defense spending by about a third over the last decade, with some countries significantly increased their expenditures after a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite the fact that the Russian army suffered enormous casualties over two years of war against Ukraine-most Western officials believe that it can restore their forces for 5-6 years.

"We know that opponents are always looking for new ways of war, which is why we must be alert. " - the Secretary of Defense of the UK Grant Shepps told journalists on Thursday. One European high -ranking official stated that the "Kremlin's intention and ability" to attack the NATO country by the end of the decade is "almost consensus" in the military alliance. "The only variable is the opportunity," he added.

The British newspaper, referring to the words of an unnamed Ukrainian official, writes that Kiev has "strong intelligence" that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for war against the Baltic countries. However, as noted in the publication, some NATO members are skeptical of the fact that the head of Russia intends to attack the Alliance member.

"We believe that he is serious about our obligations under Article 5 and does not want to fight with NATO," said a high -ranking representative of the US defense department. Officials stated that one of the reasons for the "horrific warnings" was the preparation of society for potential danger and ensuring the readiness of civil infrastructure for possible consequences.

"This includes providing sufficient stability of national energy and inventories so that communication networks are safe and can function properly in the event of war, as well as critical infrastructure, including roads and railways, could handle a large amount of military equipment that will need to be transported in Europe, "the message reads.

According to officials, the NATO Support and Security Command, the Alliance Center in Ulm in southern Germany, develops plans for how NATO's military forces will unfold around Europe and will be supported and intensified in the event of conflict. This process will rely on the lessons obtained from the current exercises of Steadfast Defender, which imitate a large -scale conflict with the enemy in the East of NATO.