A former senior Russian military officer sets out on state TV a battle plan attacking Russian forces nato Baltic states and parts of SwedenA politically neutral country.
Speaking live on TV channel Rossiya 1, the retired Russian military colonel pointed to a map showing Sweden’s largest island, Gotland, which has a population of about 58,595, circled in red.
Pointing to a map, Colonel Igor Korotchenko, formerly of the Russian General Staff and Air Force and currently a reserve officer, said that at the start of the attack ‘a massive Russian radio-electronic strike is carried out’. Because ‘all NATO radars go blind and see nothing’, according to Sun,
He said that the scenario of capturing countries could look like this.
Colonel Igor Korotchenko, formerly of the Russian General Staff and Air Force and currently a reserve officer, outlines on the TV channel Rossiya 1 what a Russian invasion of the Baltic states might look like.
Sweden has been politically neutral in its recent history, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought the possibility of the Nordic country joining NATO to the fore of political discussion.
Russia has repeatedly threatened Sweden and Finland over NATO membership since the invasion began.
“At this time, on the Swedish island of Gotland, Russian military aircraft land, deliver S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems and Bastian Coastal anti-ship systems,” said Colonel Korotchenko.
The video shows a border area called the ‘Suvalki Gap’ – the gap between Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, an area left over from Germany after World War II.
Colonel Korotchenko described how Russia would move from Kaliningrad to the Suvalki corridor separating Poland and Lithuania, blocking NATO reinforcements from the west.
“Surprised the West and NATO will find out that Russia declares a 400km no-fly zone,” said the enthused colonel.
The entire Baltic Sea would then be open to Russian forces, he said on live TV.
The scenario ends with a pledge of allegiance to Moscow by the governments of the new Baltic states, while Sweden agrees to perpetual neutrality and a 99-year lease on Gotland.
The program went out on Russian television as of the end of last year but was posted by Ukrainian government adviser Anton Gerashchenko.
NATO forces participate in cold response exercises in Norway, which take place every two years.
Armored vehicles from NATO’s Rapid Reaction Force Brigade arrive at Borg Haven in Fredrikstad, Norway, for military exercise Cold Response 22 in Norway
Only a few days ago, NATO sent tens of thousands of troops to Norway, including the Royal Marines, an aircraft carrier, a destroyer and a nuclear-powered attack submarine, which borders Russia.
Troops from 28 countries in Europe and North America are involved in a nearly month-long war game on Russia’s border starting Monday in northern Norway.
The drill, called the Cold Response, is being conducted a few hundred kilometers from the Russian border, as Vladimir Putin’s forces waging war in Ukraine.
About 35,000 troops, 200 aircraft and 50 ships are involved in the cold response, including around 900 Royal Marines who will lead the UK involvement.
They would raid the jagged Norwegian coastline from an amphibious task group led by HMS Albion.
The aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will also participate and will be accompanied by the frigate HMS Richmond, the Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender, a Royal Fleet auxiliary tanker and a nuclear-powered attack submarine.
Cold response to HMS Prince of Wales 22. featured in the
An aircrewman looks out the door of his Merlin Mk 2. RAF Marham of F35 from 207 Squadron conducted a flyby of the NATO flagship HMS Prince of Wales in the training area with the ship
NATO UK ships participate in the largest Arctic exercise in 30 years
US Marines participating in exercise with Marine Combat Assault Squadron
HMS Prince of Wales Task Group will work with allies and partners from NATO in harsh cold weather environments
The drill aims to show that a unified multilateral force will defend Norway and Europe’s northern flank from a modern adversary.
The UK’s participation in the exercise underscores the UK’s commitment to security in Europe and builds closer ties between NATO allies and partners.
NATO said the drill was not linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It said the drill was planned long before alleged war criminal Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine.
Russia has refused to be an observer in the exercise, which is aimed at practicing NATO members and partners working together on land, in the air and at sea.
The drill, which is held every other year, is due to end in April.
US Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division pose for a photograph during a training program in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 2022
US Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division simulate engaging a target in preparation for the Cold Response 2022 exercise in Norway
The Norwegian-led exercise is designed to enhance military capabilities, test the ability of US Marines to work with NATO allies and partners, and adapt to challenging climates while training on offensive and defensive tactical operations.
Norwegian Armed Forces Major Sverre Dehli (left), a native of Elverum, Norway and a winter instructor with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Center of Excellence for Cold Weather Operations, instructs US Marines