DISINFO: Poland, France preparing nuclear drills simulating strikes on Russia’s Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions
SUMMARY
Poland, together with France, is preparing for nuclear exercises in the Baltic region. The exercises include scenarios that simulate strikes on Russia’s Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing NATO of warmongering and, in particular, claiming that NATO is posing an existential threat to the Russian Federation as a state.
There is no publicly available evidence from official sources that Poland and France are preparing nuclear exercises that include simulated strikes on Russia’s Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions. Neither government statements nor NATO communications have described drills with such scenarios. NATO does conduct nuclear-related exercises, mostly for self-defence. These exercises are transparent to a great degree and primarily focused on maintaining the readiness and coordination of nuclear forces. They are not aimed at training for nuclear aggression against Russia.
Moscow has a long history of accusing NATO of simulating nuclear attacks on Russian territory. During NATO’s annual nuclear exercise Steadfast Noon, Russian authorities claimed that the drills rehearse nuclear strikes against Russian territory, despite the fact that NATO states that these exercises are routine and defensive. Similar accusations have been made about other large NATO exercises, such as Air Defender 23. Russian statements suggested back then that these drills were directed against Russia, which was not true. While NATO members, including Poland and France, do participate in nuclear deterrence exercises, there is no substantiated information that these drills include practicing strikes on Russian territory.
NATO is a political and military alliance whose mission is the collective defence of its member states. It has a policy of deterrence and defence, not of aggression. The primary purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to maintain peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression against the Alliance, particularly nuclear attacks.
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