Russia could launch limited attack on NATO "as early as tomorrow" - German general

The aggressor country russia has the ability to carry out a limited attack on the territory of the North Atlantic Alliance at any time, but the decision to act will depend on the position of Western allies. Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, Head of the German Joint Operations Command, stated this in an interview with Reuters on Friday, November 7.

Sollfrank, who also oversees defense planning, noted that given Russia's combat power and current capabilities, it could launch a limited offensive on NATO territory at any time. According to him, the offensive could be rapid and regional, as Russia is too tied up in the war against Ukraine

"The ground forces are suffering losses, but Russia says it aims to boost its total troop numbers to 1.5 million soldiers. And Russia has enough main battle tanks to make a limited attack conceivable as early as tomorrow," Sollfrank said.

In addition, the general believes that russia could potentially launch a large-scale offensive against NATO as early as 2029 if it continues to rearm. Despite the setbacks in Ukraine, the russian air force retains significant combat power, and its nuclear and missile forces remain intact, Sollfrank emphasized.

Reuters writes that Sollfrank has been heading the Joint Operations Command since its creation in 2024. Prior to taking up his current position, Sollfrank was the head of NATO's logistics command JSEC in Ulm, southern Germany.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on November 6, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte mocked nuclear threats by russian dictator vladimir putin.

On September 23, US President Donald Trump said that the member states of the North Atlantic Alliance should shoot down planes of the aggressor country russia that violate their airspace.

On September 23, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that NATO would not shoot down russian planes if they did not attack NATO members.