In the midst of the war with Ukraine, Russia recently created a panic all over the world in Kaliningrad by practicing a nuclear attack capable Iskander missile. Russia did this nuclear exercise from Russia's important military base in Kaliningrad, located near the Baltic Sea. Kaliningrad is very important for Russia in terms of military strategy and by conducting nuclear exercises there, it is believed to have issued a warning to US-dominated NATO countries and Western countries to stay away from Ukraine's help.
In such a situation, let us know what is Kaliningrad, why is it important for Russia? How is Russia sending a strong message to Europe and America through Kalinigrad? Before knowing all this give your opinion by participating in the poll...
Why is Kaliningrad so important to Russia?
The Baltic Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy is headquartered in Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is located between Poland and Lithuania, two NATO member states, with the Baltic Sea on one side. Kaliningrad is the largest city in Kaliningrad Oblast, one of the 46 administered regions of Russia of the same name. Kaliningrad Oblast is the only region in Russia that does not have direct land contact with Russia. The population of Kaliningrad spread over 223 square kilometers is about 5 lakhs.
Kaliningrad's geographical location makes it very important militarily for Russia. Russia has been conducting military exercises in Kaliningrad in the past. In the winter of 2021, Russia conducted a major military exercise named Japad-21 in Kaliningrad itself.
Kaliningrad had been militarized since the time of the Soviet Union. The entry of NATO around this region has made Kaliningrad a very important part of Russia's geopolitical strategy over the past two decades.
How and why did Russia increase its power in Kaliningrad?
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the US-dominated military alliance NATO has rapidly expanded into countries that were part of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. By doing this, the purpose of NATO was to surround Russia from all sides.
Poland became a member of NATO in 1999. In 2004, the three Baltic countries that were part of the Soviet Union - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania also joined NATO. In the same year these three countries also joined the European Union. With the joining of these countries to NATO and the European Union, the Kaliningrad region of Russia was surrounded by the member countries of NATO and European Union.
Then after the US deployed anti-ballistic missile defense through NATO in Europe, Russia rapidly increased its military capability in Kaliningrad. Russia has two major military bases in Kaliningrad—Baltisk and Chkalovsk. Russia has a naval base in Baltisk, while it has a naval air base in Chkalovsk. At least six major Russian troops are stationed in Baltisk. At the same time, it has deployed a large number of helicopters in Chkalovsk.
Baltisk is the only Baltic port in Russia that is ice-free throughout the year, which is why it is so important to the Russian Navy's operations.
According to Globalsecurity.org, Russia has about 1 to 2 lakh troops stationed in Kaliningrad. Russia first deployed the nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missile here in 2016. According to reports, Russia has deployed at least 24 Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad. With the deployment of the 500-km-range Iskander missile in Kaliningrad, the entire Central and Northern Europe including Poland, Germany, Ukraine has come under the control of this Russian missile.
How will Russia overpower NATO and Western countries from Kaliningrad?
Defense experts believe that Kaliningrad is such a place through which the Russian army can overpower NATO and European countries in the event of war. Through Kaliningrad, Russia can completely curb the movement of European and NATO countries in the Baltic Sea. Kaliningrad is believed to be an important launchpad for Russian operations if there is a war with NATO in the future.
Actually, Kaliningrad is also important because of its location near the Suvalki Gap. The Suvalki Gap is a 65 kilometer long piece of land that connects Kaliningrad with Belarus, but the Suvalki Gap lies between NATO member states Poland and Lithuania. If Russia captures the Suvalki gap, it can cut off contact with Poland and the three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia - with the rest of NATO countries.
This is the reason why American defense experts believe that before America can save the Baltic countries, Russia is capable of capturing these countries. With a large presence of Russian forces in Kaliningrad and the support of Belarus, Russia can take a heavy toll on NATO in the Baltic region.
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