BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s defense chief has warned the West should not underestimate Moscow’s military might, saying Russia has room to open a second front if it chooses. “The bulk of Russian ground forces may be tied up in Ukraine at the moment, but even so, we should not underestimate the potential of Russian ground forces to open a second theater of war,” General Eberhard Zorn, its top military Bundeswehr, he told Reuters in an interview. Apart from the army, Russia also has a navy and an air force at its disposal, he added. “Most of the Russian navy is not yet deployed in the war against Ukraine, and the Russian air force still has significant capabilities, which is a threat to NATO as well,” Zorn said. The Bundeswehr regularly supports NATO air policing missions over the Baltic states with fighter jets and, with one of the strongest fleets in the region, also keeps a close eye on developments in the Baltic Sea on its doorstep.
Video: China and Russia hold joint military exercises
One potential hotspot there is Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, home to Russia’s Baltic naval fleet and the site of development of Russian Iskander nuclear missiles. Russia has threatened to place nuclear and hypersonic weapons in Kaliningrad if Finland and Sweden join NATO, as they are in the process of doing. Zorn, speaking ahead of the launch of a Ukrainian offensive in the south, stressed that Russia continues to have significant stockpiles. “In terms of its military, Russia is very well capable of expanding the conflict regionally,” the general said. “That this would be very unreasonable for Russia to do is a different story.” Referring to the military situation in Ukraine, Zorn said the momentum of Russia’s offensive had slowed, but Russia was still pushing steadily forward. The story continues “Backed by massive artillery fire, they are driving their advance forward – regardless of Ukrainian civilian casualties,” he said. He also suggested that Russia was not going to run out of ammunition anytime soon. “The Russians have massive amounts of ammunition at their disposal,” he said. “These munitions are partly old and very inaccurate, but they are exactly what cause a lot of destruction to civilian infrastructure. They fire about 40,000 to 60,000 artillery rounds a day.” Zorn said, however, that he did not foresee any widespread offensive deep into Ukrainian territory at this time. He also said Russian forces are currently focused on capturing Donbas, the industrial region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed separatists already hold swaths of territory. However, he said there is still no military resolution. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Sarah Marsh; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
title: “Do Not Underestimate Russia S Military Power Warns German Defense Chief Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-15” author: “Doris Burk”
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s defense chief has warned the West should not underestimate Moscow’s military might, saying Russia has room to open a second front if it chooses. “The bulk of Russian ground forces may be tied up in Ukraine at the moment, but even so, we should not underestimate the potential of Russian ground forces to open a second theater of war,” General Eberhard Zorn, its top military Bundeswehr, he told Reuters in an interview. Apart from the army, Russia also has a navy and an air force at its disposal, he added. “Most of the Russian navy is not yet deployed in the war against Ukraine, and the Russian air force still has significant capabilities, which is a threat to NATO as well,” Zorn said. The Bundeswehr regularly supports NATO air policing missions over the Baltic states with fighter jets and, with one of the strongest fleets in the region, also keeps a close eye on developments in the Baltic Sea on its doorstep.
Video: China and Russia hold joint military exercises
One potential hotspot there is Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, home to Russia’s Baltic naval fleet and the site of development of Russian Iskander nuclear missiles. Russia has threatened to place nuclear and hypersonic weapons in Kaliningrad if Finland and Sweden join NATO, as they are in the process of doing. Zorn, speaking ahead of the launch of a Ukrainian offensive in the south, stressed that Russia continues to have significant stockpiles. “In terms of its military, Russia is very well capable of expanding the conflict regionally,” the general said. “That this would be very unreasonable for Russia to do is a different story.” Referring to the military situation in Ukraine, Zorn said the momentum of Russia’s offensive had slowed, but Russia was still pushing steadily forward. The story continues “Backed by massive artillery fire, they are driving their advance forward – regardless of Ukrainian civilian casualties,” he said. He also suggested that Russia was not going to run out of ammunition anytime soon. “The Russians have massive amounts of ammunition at their disposal,” he said. “These munitions are partly old and very inaccurate, but they are exactly what cause a lot of destruction to civilian infrastructure. They fire about 40,000 to 60,000 artillery rounds a day.” Zorn said, however, that he did not foresee any widespread offensive deep into Ukrainian territory at this time. He also said Russian forces are currently focused on capturing Donbas, the industrial region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed separatists already hold swaths of territory. However, he said there is still no military resolution. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Sarah Marsh; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
title: “Do Not Underestimate Russia S Military Power Warns German Defense Chief Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Elisa Blake”
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s defense chief has warned the West should not underestimate Moscow’s military might, saying Russia has room to open a second front if it chooses. “The bulk of Russian ground forces may be tied up in Ukraine at the moment, but even so, we should not underestimate the potential of Russian ground forces to open a second theater of war,” General Eberhard Zorn, its top military Bundeswehr, he told Reuters in an interview. Apart from the army, Russia also has a navy and an air force at its disposal, he added. “Most of the Russian navy is not yet deployed in the war against Ukraine, and the Russian air force still has significant capabilities, which is a threat to NATO as well,” Zorn said. The Bundeswehr regularly supports NATO air policing missions over the Baltic states with fighter jets and, with one of the strongest fleets in the region, also keeps a close eye on developments in the Baltic Sea on its doorstep.
Video: China and Russia hold joint military exercises
One potential hotspot there is Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, home to Russia’s Baltic naval fleet and the site of development of Russian Iskander nuclear missiles. Russia has threatened to place nuclear and hypersonic weapons in Kaliningrad if Finland and Sweden join NATO, as they are in the process of doing. Zorn, speaking ahead of the launch of a Ukrainian offensive in the south, stressed that Russia continues to have significant stockpiles. “In terms of its military, Russia is very well capable of expanding the conflict regionally,” the general said. “That this would be very unreasonable for Russia to do is a different story.” Referring to the military situation in Ukraine, Zorn said the momentum of Russia’s offensive had slowed, but Russia was still pushing steadily forward. The story continues “Backed by massive artillery fire, they are driving their advance forward – regardless of Ukrainian civilian casualties,” he said. He also suggested that Russia was not going to run out of ammunition anytime soon. “The Russians have massive amounts of ammunition at their disposal,” he said. “These munitions are partly old and very inaccurate, but they are exactly what cause a lot of destruction to civilian infrastructure. They fire about 40,000 to 60,000 artillery rounds a day.” Zorn said, however, that he did not foresee any widespread offensive deep into Ukrainian territory at this time. He also said Russian forces are currently focused on capturing Donbas, the industrial region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed separatists already hold swaths of territory. However, he said there is still no military resolution. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Sarah Marsh; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
title: “Do Not Underestimate Russia S Military Power Warns German Defense Chief Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-19” author: “David Foley”
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s defense chief has warned the West should not underestimate Moscow’s military might, saying Russia has room to open a second front if it chooses. “The bulk of Russian ground forces may be tied up in Ukraine at the moment, but even so, we should not underestimate the potential of Russian ground forces to open a second theater of war,” General Eberhard Zorn, its top military Bundeswehr, he told Reuters in an interview. Apart from the army, Russia also has a navy and an air force at its disposal, he added. “Most of the Russian navy is not yet deployed in the war against Ukraine, and the Russian air force still has significant capabilities, which is a threat to NATO as well,” Zorn said. The Bundeswehr regularly supports NATO air policing missions over the Baltic states with fighter jets and, with one of the strongest fleets in the region, also keeps a close eye on developments in the Baltic Sea on its doorstep.
Video: China and Russia hold joint military exercises
One potential hotspot there is Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, home to Russia’s Baltic naval fleet and the site of development of Russian Iskander nuclear missiles. Russia has threatened to place nuclear and hypersonic weapons in Kaliningrad if Finland and Sweden join NATO, as they are in the process of doing. Zorn, speaking ahead of the launch of a Ukrainian offensive in the south, stressed that Russia continues to have significant stockpiles. “In terms of its military, Russia is very well capable of expanding the conflict regionally,” the general said. “That this would be very unreasonable for Russia to do is a different story.” Referring to the military situation in Ukraine, Zorn said the momentum of Russia’s offensive had slowed, but Russia was still pushing steadily forward. The story continues “Backed by massive artillery fire, they are driving their advance forward – regardless of Ukrainian civilian casualties,” he said. He also suggested that Russia was not going to run out of ammunition anytime soon. “The Russians have massive amounts of ammunition at their disposal,” he said. “These munitions are partly old and very inaccurate, but they are exactly what cause a lot of destruction to civilian infrastructure. They fire about 40,000 to 60,000 artillery rounds a day.” Zorn said, however, that he did not foresee any widespread offensive deep into Ukrainian territory at this time. He also said Russian forces are currently focused on capturing Donbas, the industrial region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed separatists already hold swaths of territory. However, he said there is still no military resolution. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Sarah Marsh; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
