Russian military analyst Boris Dzherelievsky has claimed that major NATO member states plan to pull former Soviet republics into a potential conflict with Russia.
Writing in a column for the Russian daily newspaper Izvestia, Dzherelievsky cited Western defense documents detailing potential strike scenarios against Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and logistical routes in Eastern Europe.
The analyst highlighted the Nato Land Warfighting Concept, a strategic blueprint published by the German newspaper Bild and developed by Andrew Pingrey, a major in the United States military. Under the proposed concept, Western forces would direct their primary blow against the Kaliningrad region in the event of open conflict.
Kaliningrad is a heavily fortified Russian exclave situated on the Baltic Sea, separated from the Russian mainland and bordered by NATO members Poland and Lithuania. NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a Western military alliance formed in 1949 that has expanded along Russia's western border.
Suwalki Gap and Baltic proxy concerns
Dzherelievsky also cited a study by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based defense think tank. The report suggested that Russian forces could establish fire control over the 65-kilometer Suwalki Gap using fiber-optic FPV drones. The narrow corridor along the Polish border serves as a critical transport link connecting Poland with the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
In his analysis, Dzherelievsky argued that Western military planners are ignoring the possibility that Russia might deploy nuclear weapons. He stated that officials in London and Brussels intend to use the Baltic republics as proxy launchpads for strike systems aimed at Russian territory while confining any hostilities to border regions.
Because neither the US military concept nor the British report foresees direct land combat between primary NATO forces and Russian troops, Dzherelievsky described the publications as propaganda tools. He claimed they were designed to raise morale among potential alliance partners and encourage risky military maneuvers.
Air defense penetration maneuvers
The commentary follows earlier reports regarding NATO tactical developments along Russia's borders. In July, the Russian military Telegram channel Voennaya Khronika reported that NATO plans to combine LCM Mk2 long-range missiles with DELUGE drones to overwhelm radar channels and penetrate Russian air defense systems.
Additionally, Izvestia reported in June that NATO forces stationed near the Russian border in Karelia conducted drills simulating an air defense breach. The exercises reportedly relied on tactical scenarios adapted from recent joint American and Israeli operations in Iran.
Karelia is a republic in northwestern Russia sharing a long border with Finland, which joined NATO in 2023. Russian defense officials have repeatedly voiced concern over increased alliance military activity along the border.
