According to Russian media outlet RT, reported on September 30th, Russia has warned the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that NATO has increased military exercises near Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast, increasing the risk of direct military conflicts between the two sides. Russia has emphasized its determination to use all available forces to defend the exclave.
The Russian Embassy in Belgium issued a statement saying that Russia has observed a significant increase in NATO military activities near the Russian border, with frequent large-scale exercises aimed at "containing Russian threat." In addition, Russia noticed an escalation in rhetoric by Western military and political leaders, particularly those from NATO countries in Eastern Europe, regarding Russia.
The statement says that Russia has conveyed its position to the NATO and Belgian foreign ministries. Russia warned NATO that these “reckless and irresponsible actions” increase the risk of direct military conflicts between the two sides. The Russian government emphasized that if NATO attempts to split the Kaliningrad Oblast from Russia, Russia is prepared to use all means to defend the enclave.
Today's Russia points out that the statements mentioned by Western politicians refer mainly to those made earlier in May by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sejczyk. At that time, Sejczyk stated that the Kaliningrad region had ‘almost no military presence’. He urged NATO to strengthen its military deployments near the Russian border, so that Moscow would ‘not be able to determine what actions NATO will take’.
Regarding this, NATO spokesperson Alison Hart confirmed that NATO has received warnings from Russia. Hart accused Russia of making ‘irresponsible statements’. She responded by saying: ‘We strongly condemn any form of military threat, including any irresponsible nuclear threats.’
NATO has been conducting military exercises in eastern Europe recently. According to AFP, NATO held an exercise in Suwak, near the Polish border this month, aiming to prepare local residents for evacuations in case of a Russian threat. Suwak is located near Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast and has NATO defense installations, making it considered one of the most strategically important locations in NATO’s eastern wing.
