Pikne on the sidelines: Russian military closely monitoring NATO exercises in Estonia
The Russian Armed Forces are closely following the exercises of other countries near their borders, and the NATO Pikne (Lightning) maneuvers in Estonia, which began on December 2, are no exception, military experts interviewed by Izvestia said. According to them, our servicemen monitor the actions practiced by the opponents, which not only helps to understand the plans and scenarios of their possible realization, but also to avoid any surprises. Against the backdrop of the NATO exercises, the Baltic Fleet brought to the training grounds coastal missile systems "Bastion", capable of hitting both sea and land targets.
"Bastions" went on exercises
On Monday, December 2, the Bastion coastal missile systems of the Leningrad Naval Base of the Baltic Fleet held a planned training on deployment of combat equipment. They left the places of permanent deployment, marched and took positions on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Fleet press service said.
According to the Baltic Fleet, during the exercise the crews passed the standards on preparation and marching to the designated position area, bringing the complexes to combat, preparation for firing, changing firing positions, camouflage and defense against sabotage forces of the enemy.
Bastion coastal missile system
In total, the event involved about 50 servicemen and about ten units of automotive and special equipment, the press service noted.
Earlier, the crews of small missile ships "Grad", "Sovetsk" and "Naro-Fominsk" of the Baltic Fleet held exercises on a group strike with cruise missiles "Kalibr" on the coastal objects of the conditional enemy - they made electronic launches directly from the basing point.
At the same time, the Bastion coastal missile systems practiced the destruction of enemy ships in the Baltic Sea with electronic missile launches as part of their combat duty on the coast of the Kaliningrad Region.
The Russian Armed Forces closely follow all NATO exercises, especially if they take place near our borders - they know when they start, what they will be practicing, and they do not lose vigilance during them, military expert Viktor Litovkin told Izvestia.
- We look at the actions that are practiced there, calculate the options for the development of events - in general, we keep our ears open and draw conclusions, - said Viktor Litovkin. - This helps to understand the plans and scenarios of their realization. We are ready for any surprises.
All NATO troop movements are monitored by our intelligence, military expert Alexei Leonkov told Izvestia.
- We have a satellite constellation," he noted. - For example, there is a maritime reconnaissance and target designation system that tracks everything that happens in the waters of the world ocean. Including in the seas near our coast. Satellite reconnaissance also records all movements on land. There are radars that guard our western borders. All this will make it possible to collect the necessary information about maneuvers of NATO troops and avoid provocations.
According to Victor Litovkin, the exercises in Estonia are largely an attempt to intimidate Russia.
- NATO has stopped hiding the goals of its alliance," the expert reminded. - In the words of Admiral Rob Bauer, the head of the NATO Military Committee, they declared that their alliance ceases to be defensive and will now prioritize offensive actions. This is not news to us, of course. No one has ever attacked them or even intended to do so. It was NATO countries that bombed Yugoslavia, conducted operations in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and even visited Somalia. Now they are demonstrating their nature in Estonia. From there they threaten the Novgorod, Pskov and Leningrad regions. Another strategic goal for them is to block the Gulf of Finland, blocking our fleet there. It is not for nothing that Alliance ships came to Estonia the other day. Some of them will surely practice the maritime component of such actions within the framework of exercises.
The armies of the North Atlantic Alliance, of course, count on the suddenness of their actions on our western borders, says Alexei Leonkov.
- After such exercises, they "forget" some of the military equipment in warehouses in the Baltic States, apparently expecting that if necessary, it will be able to start and launch into battle "vacationers" who arrived at the site as tourists in civilian clothes, - said Alexei Leonkov. - But we are ready for it. All coordinates of such warehouses are written down. More serious measures were taken. For example, the Leningrad Military District was created, whose missile systems shoot the entire Baltic States. In case of a threat, the Baltic Fleet will use all its means, including numerous small missile ships with Kalibras. There is also the All-Union Air Force - our airplanes will not be left behind.
According to the expert, NATO staff games have shown that they will not hold the Suvalki corridor, which separates Kaliningrad region and Belarus, and therefore the Baltics.
- The battles in the Baltics are necessary for NATO to gain time to concentrate forces in Eastern Europe," he said.
NATO exercise Pikne in Estonia
At the Pikne exercise, NATO forces are going to practice the rapid transfer of French, British and Estonian forces. In the first week, army units will focus on practicing such maneuvers in the regions of northeastern Estonia bordering Russia. During this phase, units of the French armed forces will conduct land and air operations to move forces into Estonia.
After that, live firing exercises will be organized at the Sirgala shooting range, including with heavy combat equipment. About two thousand soldiers from Estonia, Latvia, the United States, France and the United Kingdom will take part in them. The NATO multinational combat team stationed in Estonia will also be involved, including soldiers from Iceland.
As part of Pikne, NATO air forces will conduct training flights of fighters and transport aircraft in Estonian airspace, including at low altitude, from December 2-8.
The land forces and air forces will be joined by ships of NATO's First Permanent Naval Group. One of them will directly participate in the exercise.
Exercise Pikne is part of NATO's Brilliant Eagle program, which focuses on deployment and cooperation opportunities for NATO countries in the Baltic Sea region.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
