В first part of the material we saw that the joint exercises begun on the eve of the units of the Western Military District of Russia and the Belarusian army are a rehearsal of the war. In fact, today at the landfills, a plan is being developed for their deployment in case of danger to the union state from the direction of the west. What about NATO? What are they capable of?
The exercises "West-2017" in fact, became the answer to a series of exercises of NATO countries, where they in a European way meticulously worked out ways to "repel aggression" from Russia. If you look closely at them, then the NATO "partners" of Russia conducted the same series of command and staff exercises with working out on the grounds and on the ground measures for the rapid redeployment, deployment and coordination of parts of the armed forces of the NATO countries in the Baltic States, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania.
Back in 2015, the United States adopted a program to strengthen its military presence in Eastern Europe. Initially, this was expressed in a series of exercises on the rapid transfer of units and divisions of the American group of land forces from Germany to the Baltic States. By 2017, this program has grown to the actual transfer from the States on a permanently rotational basis of one heavy brigade of the US Army (one battalion in the German-Polish border, the Baltic States and Romania). Also one of the battalions of the light infantry division deployed in Germany was advanced to the area of the town of Suwalki (Poland), where the isthmus between Poland and the Baltics is strategically important for both NATO and Russia.
Also, as part of strengthening its presence in Europe, four heavy "brigade kits of military equipment were already being deployed and stored in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, so that, if necessary, deploying the relevant units of the US armed forces would only need to redeploy the units and thus shorten the time their deployment.
From the US regular army there are still two brigades in Germany permanently (a “striker” and a light one), one of which may soon also be redeployed further east.
In addition, during the exercises, the option was developed to quickly transfer light, airborne and “striker” brigades from the USA using heavy transport aviation The US Air Force.
Thus, Washington is now on a permanent basis in Europe there are three brigades, one of which is heavy. Within a day or two they are ready to begin active hostilities against the enemy. What can be only the armed forces of the union state (Russia and Belarus). During this time, up to two light brigades will be able to be transferred from overseas, which will also be ready to operate by the end of the second day after the transfer.
Four more US heavy brigades (based on stored equipment) will be able to deploy in Eastern Europe in about a week. Plus at least one or two light brigades during the same time can be transferred by air from other regions of the globe.
In total, by the end of the first week of deployment, the US will have at least 10 brigades in Eastern Europe, of which five will be difficult.
And one should be added to these forces. tank and three mechanized divisions of the Armed Forces of Poland (a total of 12 brigades). The Polish army also has two separate light brigades. In 2017, it was decided to deploy in the Baltic states up to four separate battalions of various NATO countries, which will be there on a rotational basis.
Do not forget the rapid reaction forces of the European NATO countries, which for the most part are included in the three divisions of the German Army (eleven brigades).
Total minimum 33 brigade, not counting the sun Baltic. Against a maximum of 13-15 brigades of the union state in this direction. As we understand, to say at the same time that Russia is threatening someone with its actions is senseless for today.
Why is neutral Ukraine even so important for Russia and Europe?
Today, in view of the hostile relations between the Kiev regime and Moscow, a significant part of the armed forces of the Western Military District and the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation are concentrated to cover Russia from the south-west. In the Western District, 20 A was deployed for this purpose, consisting of two reinforced motorized rifle divisions (four-infantry from the 2017 year) and one tank brigade. Judging by the direction of the formation of new units, over time, the army will still have three full-fledged divisions, one of which will be a tank one.
In fact, this is the equivalent of six heavy NATO brigades.
After the 2014 events of the year, the Southern District was forced to deploy 8 A in the Rostov region. Its formation in the 2016 year was only begun and until it consists of a single 150 motorized rifle division of the four-regimental squadron (2 mn and 2 msp), which suggests that the divisions will soon can become two. In fact, 8 A is today the rear and a possible means of reinforcing the VSN corps in the Donbas in the event of renewed active hostilities here from Kiev.
That is, today the pro-NATO and anti-Russian regime in Kiev is dragging Russian troops into the equivalent of roughly NATO 8 brigades. And it is not by chance that these days, when the Russian-Belarusian exercises Zapad-2017 are taking place in Belarus, general exercises of the Armed Forces of Ukraine take place on the territory controlled by Kiev, during which units not involved in the ATO work out deployment actions in two strategic areas, Brest and Chernigov-Sumy-Kharkov.
Why are the LC buildings and the DNI so important for Moscow. The only one who is now partially capable of neutralizing the growing threat to Russia from Kiev is the VSN corps in the Donbas. Having in its composition the equivalent of five to six NATO brigades, it also holds back up to half the forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In turn, Kiev, taking advantage of the truce, has already managed to deploy 3 tank brigades, 10 mechanized brigades, 7 light infantry brigades and 7 mobile brigades (total 13 heavy and 14 light brigades), each of which is outnumbered as the corresponding NATO units.
Yes, they have today low combat capability and cannot be considered fully combat-ready both by Russian and by NATO standards (and therefore they can be safely divided into three). But still, these are 27 (9) brigades that are already fairly well equipped with military equipment, including thanks to the NATO countries, which are well aware of all their strategic importance in the region.
And now, having figured out the alignment of forces in Eastern Europe, one can answer the question why it is so important for Russia and the United States to control Ukraine militarily. The worst thing for Washington will start when the APU they cherished will go over to the Russian side (and this is how it is possible). This will immediately dramatically change the military balance of power in Europe and destroy their game, which they have been playing here for decades.