The Russian army has suffered serious losses in Ukraine And, almost three years after he launched his large -scale invasion -they are fulfilled just on February 22 -his soldiers are still engaged in a brutal fight. But the West cannot be calm, because He doesn’t win … but he doesn’t lose either.
Moscow ha repeatedly threatened to the NATO alliance And he is on a war footing, rebuilding and reforming his armymanufacturing more weapons and even joining forces with hostile nations to the West (read North Korea). Its economy is touched but resistsdespite the sanctions.
Gabrielius Landsbergis, who until the end of last year was Minister of Foreign Affairs of the European Union and the NATO and neighbor of Russia -has spoken with the American media on how Russia He has been investing strongly in his war machinery And his conclusions show that tranquility there can be no.
The Russians “Not only do the battlefield tanks repair, but also build them”dice. “They are building drones” And they have had years to try and experiment. They have experienced modern large -scale combat, while the West has focused more on the CONTRIERRORISM that in preparing for an important war with an almost the same adversary, which has allowed some of the skills necessary for the first to be stunted. “I would say Russia is probably more dangerous than ever“He says.
Keir Giles, senior consultant of the Russia and Eurasia program by Chatham House, told Russia’s problems in Ukraine They do not exclude the possibility of a Russian attack in another place. Assume that Russian setbacks in Ukraine mean that it will not launch an attack somewhere else “Ignore Russia’s habit of erroneously convincing that he is able to do something and then launch the attack anyway.”.
Regardless of Moscow doing the right or not, “the consequences are devastating“he said. He also pointed out that great losses of troops, which Russia considers Cheap AssetsThey have not dissuaded Russia to continue their attack against Ukraine. Many of the professional soldiers with whom Russia began this war They are no longeralong with huge amounts of equipment.
The United Kingdom’s Armed Forces Minister said in December that the United Kingdom believed that More than 750,000 Russian military had died or resounded Since its large -scale invasion began at the end of February 2022. Ukrainian estimates are even greater. Russia usually appears to forces expendable already teams with seniority decades taken from their stores to cover holes in their army.
But the Russian army is far from emptying. and overtime work for rebuild and rearmand Russia, as the American general in Europe in autumn said, has forces, as strategic aviation assets and underwater forces, which “They have barely been affected” For war. That general, Christopher Cavoli, commander of the European Command of the United States, also said that the Russian Army had grown up. “The narrative that Russia has weakened is the most dangerous”Said Landbergis. “Sincerely, I think Russia is not only not weakened, but It is clearly on war foot“.
He said Russia I had “much more personal” than before the warand although those new service members have a lot Less training That the soldiers that Russia had at the beginning, are still acquiring an invaluable experience.
George Barros, War War Expert for the Study of War (ISW), said Russia “It has the preparation and ability to position and potentially attack the members of the NATO eastern flank”which includes Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Andris Sprūds, a Minister of Defense of Latvia, also said to Business Insider that “this war has taught us that Even a weakened Russia is still a dangerous Russia“. There is total coincidence among those who know.
“Although Russia’s efforts are currently focused on war in Ukraine, it is not time to relax and lower their guard”he said, adding that “we estimate that Russia will recover its military capacity in the next five years; therefore, we must do everything possible to prepare before a possible attack. “
War foot
Many European countries are giving the alarm about the possibility of Russia acting against them. began to give its citizens a brochure that advised them how prepare for warand its defense minister recently warned that, although the Russian forces were “Cattle in Ukraine”Russia “represents a threat For Sweden, as does for the rest of NATO “, and added:” We cannot rule out a Russian attack on our country. “The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland He also said last year that he would not be surprised if Russia attacked his country.
“Russian war machinery is fully functioning at this time”
Hamish of Bretton-Gordon, an expert in defense and excommanting of the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear forces of the United Kingdom, said in the extensive report cited that Russia, after having been “beaten” in Ukraine, He was probably not in a position to attack in a conventional way. But “Russian war machinery is fully functioning at this time”He said, so Russia could become a more serious threat in five to ten years. He said that NATO had an “overwhelming power” to deal with an attack, but Russia could still cause significant damage.
European officials say Russian attacks have begun and report. “Putin is already launching attacks in Europe, putting ourselves to the test And overcoming the red lines, “said Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.
Barros adds that Russian hybrid attacks were “war acts to which We decided not to answer“If the West does not send a overwhelming signal To Russia to stop his attacks, warn Landsbergis, Russia will intensify His attacks. “Not having clear repercussions for their actions, they feel encouraged to go further“.
Landsbergis also said that his country was preparing for a time when Russia would look to other places in Europe. Estonia is doing the same and, according to Tsahkna, Now it aims to spend 5% of your GDPproportionally more than the United States, in defense due to “real needs.” That proportion of GDP, which Estonia and Lithuania now aspire, would be the highest of any NATO ally.
Some European leaders and war experts warn that the continent not producing enough ammunition and armament To dissuade or counteract Russia, despite the increase in production rates. Tsahkna said Europe needed “invest in our defense industryin our abilities. “
Sprūds, Letonia Defense Minister, said “we have to invest in our defense,” “increasing the defenseincreasing production, promoting our resilience and supporting Ukraine in their struggle for all of us. “Baltic countries have been to vanguard of this effort. In short, said Landsbergis, “We need to prepare, and the most dangerous times are coming”.
