Russia is capable of carrying out a limited attack on NATO territory at any moment, but the decision to act will depend on the position of Western allies.

Source: German Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank in an interview with Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to Sollfrank, such an attack could be a small strike close to Russia's borders.

Quote from Sollfrank: "If you look at Russia's current capabilities and combat power, Russia could kick off a small-scale attack against NATO territory as early as tomorrow."

"Small, quick, regionally limited, nothing big – Russia is too tied down in Ukraine for that."

Details: Sollfrank, who heads Germany's Joint Operations Command and oversees defence planning, also reiterated NATO's warning that Russia could potentially carry out a large-scale attack on the Alliance's 32 member states as early as 2029 if its rearmament efforts continue unchecked.

Speaking at his headquarters in northern Berlin, Sollfrank stated that despite setbacks in Ukraine, Russia's Air Force retains significant combat capability, and its nuclear and missile forces remain intact.

Although the Black Sea Fleet has suffered substantial losses, Russia's other fleets have not been reduced, he said.

The ground forces have taken casualties, but Russia claims it intends to increase the total number of its troops to 1.5 million.

"And Russia has enough main battle tanks to make a limited attack conceivable as early as tomorrow," the general added, without specifying whether such an offensive is currently being planned.

Sollfrank said that whether Moscow decides to attack NATO will be determined by three factors: Russia's military strength, its operational experience and its leadership.

"These three factors lead me to the conclusion that a Russian attack is in the realm of the possible. Whether it will happen or not depends to a large extent on our own behaviour," he added, hinting at NATO's deterrence efforts.

The general noted that Moscow's hybrid-warfare tactics, including drone incursions, should be viewed as interconnected elements of a broader strategy that also includes the war against Ukraine.

"The Russians call this non-linear warfare. In their doctrine, this is warfare before resorting to conventional weapons. And they threaten to use nuclear weapons – which is warfare by intimidation," he said.

He added that Russia's aim was both to provoke NATO and to assess its reaction, seeking to "foster insecurity, spread fear, to do damage, to spy and to test" the Alliance's resilience.

Background :

• Last week, Romania's Ministry of Defence confirmed earlier media reports that the United States is reducing the number of its troops stationed in Europe.
• The US Army Europe and Africa Command confirmed plans to redeploy part of the military contingent from European countries, stressing that this does not amount to a withdrawal.

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