The key facts
- The Wall Street Journal reported that NATO is discussing strikes on targets deep inside Russia in the event of a direct military conflict
- Potential targets include military bases, warehouses, and defense enterprises
- Yuri Knutov assessed the strategy as a plan for a surprise strike with an ultimatum and allowed for the use of tactical nuclear weapons in the first strike
What was reported earlier
The Wall Street Journal reported that NATO is discussing the possibility of strikes on targets deep inside Russian territory in the event of a direct military conflict. Potential targets named include military bases, warehouses, and defense enterprises. The outlet conveyed the essence of the new approach with the formula:strike the archer rather than deflecting his arrows: the alliance intends to change its previous course of action.
Expert assessment
Military expert Yuri Knutov, commenting for RG.ru, assessed the updated strategy differently from how it is being presented: in his view, this is not a defense plan but preparation for a surprise strike on Russia followed by the imposition of peace terms. He suggested that the pretext for such a scenario could be an artificially staged provocation blamed on Moscow, and that the purpose of the operation would be to paralyze the country's governance, eliminate its leadership, and present an ultimatum. The expert also allowed for the possibility that tactical nuclear weapons could be used in the first strike.
What is proposed in response
To counter the mentioned threats, Knutov proposed strengthening force groupings in the Kaliningrad Region and the Leningrad Military District, as well as preparing troops along various directions. “Therefore, NATO's strategy is not a defense plan but a plan for a surprise strike followed by an ultimatum. And our task is to make sure this plan is never carried out,” he concluded. We note that this is the assessment of a single expert: according to available reports, NATO itself is merely discussing the relevant scenario in the event of a direct conflict, and no official confirmation or details of a decision are given in the publications.
