General Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, General Eberhard Zorn, said that Russia’s military strength should not be underestimated. Earlier, European leaders announced major changes in their armed forces to take control of Russia.
“A large number of Russian ground forces may be dependent on Ukraine at the moment, but we should not underestimate the potential of Russian ground forces to open a second battlefield,” Zorn said.
He noted that most of the Russian fleet is not deployed in Ukraine and that the Russian air force also has significant potential to pose a threat to NATO. He also spoke of the “huge stockpiles of weapons”, speaking of the equipment of the Russian army.
Earlier in Germany, they have repeatedly announced that their own resources to help Ukraine are exhausted, since on the balance sheet of the Bundeswehr only weapons for the needs of the German army remain. According to the Bundeswehr representative, Germany “cannot take such risks,” given the “threat posed by Russia”.
We must be prepared for the fact that Putin will take advantage of any weakness or even a temporary gap in NATO’s defense capability.explained.
Scary developments in Russia
The military and politicians of the United States and Europe have repeatedly expressed their concerns about a number of new Russian developments – Zircon hypersonic missiles, Sarmat intercontinental missiles and Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicles.
On August 20, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the start of mass production of Zircon hypersonic missiles and the continued production of Kinzhal hypersonic systems. August 18 TASS Citing a source at the Russian Ministry of Defense, he said that Russia will produce several dozen Onyx supersonic anti-ship missiles a year.
On August 16, it was learned that the Russian Ministry of Defense purchased the latest Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Sarmat is a fifth-generation Russian silo-based strategic missile system with a heavy, multi-stage, liquid-fueled, intercontinental ballistic missile. “Sarmat” will replace the Soviet “Voevoda” missiles, which in NATO countries are called “Satan”.
On July 24, the US television channel CNN expressed concern about the new Russian submarine Belgorod, equipped with Poseidon nuclear torpedoes, which observers say is “unique in world history”.
“These torpedoes are launched from hundreds of miles away and bypass the seabed and overcome coastal defenses. Both US and Russian officials say the torpedoes can carry warheads of several megatons and generate radioactive waves that will render the coastline uninhabitable for decades. “Poseidons” were designed to flood US coastal cities with radioactive tsunamis“, release notes.
The best defense is attack
On May 31, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Transformation of the Bundeswehr into Europe’s largest conventional army. On 22 June he announced that the FRG would expand its military activities in the Baltic Sea, and an agreement was reached with the Lithuanian government.
“This will significantly strengthen the security of the FRG and its allies,” he said.
The United States (1.35 million), Turkey (439 thousand) and France (207 thousand) now head the rating of the North Atlantic Alliance member states in terms of the number of regular armed forces. Germany is in fourth place (185,000).
June 7 became the United States A new 11th airborne division has been established in the state of AlaskaThey were called the Arctic Angels. The group included the 1st and 4th brigades of the 25th Infantry Division based in Alaska (headquarters in Hawaii). They became the 1st and 2nd brigades of the Arctic Airborne Division, respectively. The formation will also include a helicopter and artillery brigades and support units. The personnel of the 11th Division will be 12,000 soldiers.
In fact, we are talking about the reconstitution of the 11th Airborne Division, which participated in military operations on the Pacific borders during the Second World War. Disbanded after 1965. Now the American army (in addition to the 82nd) will have two air divisions.
13 June French President Emmanuel Macron announces the country has entered a period of war economy Because of the situation in Ukraine. He then applied to the Department of Defense with a request to review the military planning law for 2019-2025. This document aims to establish a multi-annual planning of expenditure allocated by France to the provision of the armed forces.
“I asked the Minister of the Armed Forces and Chief of Staff to review the military planning law in the coming weeks in light of geopolitical developments,” Macron said at the opening of the Eurosatory 2022 international arms exhibition.
19 June British Chief of Staff Patrick Sanders He declared the need to create an army “able to defeat Russia”. He drew attention to the need to create an army that could “fight again in Europe”.
“There is an urgent need to build an army that can fight alongside our allies and defeat Russia in battle,” Sanders told subordinates, the Independent quoted.
The Mirror edition also reminds us that Sanders will be subject to the smallest British army in 300 years, as the government previously decided to gradually reduce the number of regular soldiers to 73,000.
On June 29, US President Joe Biden announced On measures to strengthen the grouping of American troops in Europe.
“We will send two additional F-35 squadrons to the UK. We will work with our ally to increase the number of US destroyers stationed at Rota Naval Base in Spain from four to six,” he said.
In addition, the process of ratification of agreements on the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO is still ongoing. On July 5, on the backdrop of the Russian special military operation, the countries signed protocols on joining the alliance.
Source: Gazeta
