Remote strikes instead of invasion: how Russia is preparing for war with NATO

The Kremlin currently lacks the forces to open a new front in Europe. Almost all of the invaders’ combat-ready units are concentrated in eastern Ukraine, making a large-scale invasion in another direction unlikely.

This opinion was expressed in a comment to “Pryamoy” by Ukrainian journalist and publicist Vitaliy Portnikov.

“I think that Russia simply does not have any real resources to attack the Baltic countries,” the expert emphasized.

Portnikov cited recent events in Syria as evidence that Moscow’s capabilities have been exhausted. In his opinion, the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime was a consequence of the Russian Federation’s lack of additional resources to support its satellites.

Without the announcement of a new large-scale mobilization, any plans to control the former Soviet republics look like political fantasy, since NATO armies already have modern weapons and do not require extensive training, the journalist explains.

At the same time, Portnikov warned of a new format for a possible clash between Russia and the Alliance. He noted that modern warfare does not necessarily involve the introduction of ground troops, but may be limited to remote strikes. According to him, the reason for this could be accusations of the use of the airspace of neighboring states by the Ukrainian military.

“A date could be put on the military facilities of these countries with a clear explanation that this is about neutralizing targets,” the analyst stated, referring to recent statements from the Kremlin.

However, Portnikov expressed doubts that in the event of such pinpoint attacks, NATO would immediately begin bombing Russian territory. It is likely that the allies will limit themselves to protests and increased assistance to Kyiv in order to avoid direct participation in hostilities. In his opinion, such a strategy of Moscow is aimed at demonstrating the powerlessness of the West and psychological pressure on European societies.

Recall that NATO is preparing a new system that will allow for faster deployment of troops to the Baltic states in the event of a threat from Russia. Currently, the Alliance’s forces in this region are subordinate to the headquarters in Szczecin, Poland, but the new plan involves the creation of an additional level of command.

Instead, the US plans to accelerate the withdrawal of its troops from bases in Europe and present corresponding proposals to NATO allies. This includes a possible acceleration of the previously announced reduction of the American contingent, particularly in Germany.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry has published a list of companies located in Europe that allegedly produce and supply drones to Ukraine. Such a move, the press service of the ministry claims, will lead to an escalation of the military-political situation on the European continent and the transformation of these countries into Ukraine’s strategic rear.

In addition, the Kremlin is actively building the psychological and informational foundation for a possible future war against NATO. At the same time , Russia is creating a network of “Trojan horses” by buying up real estate near military bases in NATO countries to launch a coordinated sabotage campaign. The Kremlin has also intensified its propaganda campaign to create a “Narva People’s Republic,” which may indicate that the Kremlin is preparing to attack Estonia.

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