Expert: under guise of NATO exercises, weapons may be supplied to Ukraine

In early February, NATO's biggest drills since the Cold War, Steadfast Defender, kicked off, involving more than 90 thousand troops from 31 allies. The official Kremlin called these manoeuvres a threat to Russia's security. In his talk with the SB TV YouTube channel, Aleksandr Tishchenko, a reserve colonel and national security expert, explained why NATO is trying to destabilise the situation in the region.

Photo: video screenshot

The expert noted that these exercises are a continuation of the concept that the United States are guided by at present, “This concept clearly indicates America's enemies: these are Russia and China. The US either mentions everyone else very briefly, or just neglects them, since it does not even view them as opponents. The concept is based on completely new principles. In 2017-18, the country created multi-domain and matrix wars, and it is trying to practice them at these exercises at present. This is being done just now, since the Russian operation in Ukraine and Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip have made it possible to reconsider approaches to the conduct of hostilities. If we closely scrutinise modern military operations, it is possible to see that they resemble shooting sparrows with cannons. What sort of balance of forces can we talk about if a sixpenny drone is shot down by a million-Dollar-worth missile? Americans have noticed these points, and they are now working them over in their concept. Therefore, a transfer of troops and equipment is in place. Naval, air, ground, space forces, communications troops, and electronic warfare are participating in the drills.”

Mr. Tishchenko stressed that, under the auspices of the exercises, there may be an unnoticeable transfer of forces and vehicles, as well as strengthening of some sections, “This is because recently NATO has not been withdrawing its troops, equipment and weapons, leaving everything as they are. Moreover, I would like to draw attention to the fact that the Ukrainian direction can be strengthened under the guise of these drills, because the budget of the last exercises reached $7bn, and the present ones are even more cost-intensive (being organised within the framework of the new concept). Therefore, the supply or concentration of weapons to Ukraine under the guise of exercises is quite possible, and I would pay more attention to this. After all, the Ukrainian topic is probably the most sensitive. Moreover, the Baltic States and Poland also constantly declare militarisation. Actually, weapons are necessary, and these exercises are just a good way to transfer them.”