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Russia has warned NATO that it would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if the alliance attempts to isolate Kaliningrad, Reuters reported on September 30, citing a diplomatic document.
In the document sent to NATO, Russia accused the alliance of following a “dangerous and reckless course” that carried a high risk of direct armed conflict.
Moscow also warned of possible strikes against decision-making centers in NATO member states from the outset of a conflict.
“Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons,” the diplomatic note said, warning that Moscow could take such action to defend its territory if NATO countries attempted to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of Russia.
Kaliningrad lies between NATO members Poland and Lithuania and serves as the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic Fleet. The exclave’s dependence on routes through neighboring countries has made access to it a longstanding source of tension between Moscow and the Baltic states.
Lithuania has previously taken measures that directly affected Russian access to Kaliningrad. In June 2022, Vilnius restricted the transit through its territory of goods covered by European Union sanctions, cutting off some freight shipments between mainland Russia and the exclave.
At the time, Russia protested the move and threatened unspecified countermeasures before the EU moved to establish rules allowing much of the transit to continue under its sanctions regime.
The issue has returned to the forefront this year. In May, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said NATO should demonstrate that it was capable of penetrating Kaliningrad’s defenses and destroying Russian air defense and missile installations there if necessary.
Russian officials condemned the remarks, while President Vladimir Putin later warned that Russia had the means to destroy anyone who attacked the exclave.
The latest Reuters report said Moscow is also alarmed by frequent NATO military exercises, intelligence flights and interceptions of Russian ships near Kaliningrad.
Russian embassies in at least three European countries have issued statements in recent days accusing NATO of escalating tensions and planning scenarios involving the territory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described these statements as diplomatic reminders aimed at “hotheads in Europe.”
NATO rejected Moscow’s characterization of its own activities as a threat to Russian territory. In a written response seen by Reuters, the alliance said it was defensive and that “none of NATO’s exercises or activities pose a threat to the territory of the Russian Federation.”
Russia’s latest warning reflected growing concern over NATO actions that include arms supplies to Ukraine, sanctions, ship interceptions, military exercises and intelligence flights near Kaliningrad. Ignoring these concerns could lead to a serious escalation.
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attacking kaliningrad will be the last mistake nazi nato ever makes!!! europe will become a lifeless wasteland, at hypersonic speed. so toxic european soil will be inconducive to any and all lifeforms, which will last for 10s of thousands of years!!!
russia’s “red lines” have been crossed many times and nothing happened