Russia claims that NATO countries have been practicing scenarios for seizing the Kaliningrad Oblast and preemptive strikes on russian nuclear bases during recent exercises.
This was stated on April 28 by the russian presidential aide and head of the Naval Collegium Nikolai Patrushev, quoted by the TASS propaganda agency.
"For the second year in a row, NATO has been conducting the largest exercises in recent decades near our borders, practicing scenarios for seizing the Kaliningrad Oblast. They are practicing preemptive strikes on the permanent bases of russian nuclear deterrent forces," Patrushev said.
He also accused the North Atlantic Alliance of preparing for military action in the territory from Vilnius to Odesa and attempting to control shipping in the Baltic and Black Seas.
"NATO forces are training to attack the territory from Vilnius to Odesa, as well as to restrict the movement of ships in the Baltic and Black Seas," the Kremlin representative said.
In addition, Patrushev pointed to specific "threats" to russia from the West, naming among them British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Recall that in 2024, NATO conducted large-scale exercises Steadfast Defender-2024 in Eastern Europe, which lasted four months. In particular, Kaliningrad is home to the headquarters of the russian Baltic Fleet, one of the key elements of russia's military presence in the Baltic region.
Meanwhile, the United States has admitted to changing its approaches to Ukraine's accession to NATO after the change of the head of the White House.
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