Russia is rearming rocket troops, its neighbors express concern
December 14 German edition of Bild published a sensational news. From sources in the German Ministry of Defense, journalists learned about the recent actions of the Russian military. According to the newspaper, Russia has placed in the Kaliningrad region a number of new operational-tactical missile systems (OTKR) "Iskander-M". Accurate information about the number of complexes is missing, but on the available satellite images, according to Bild, at least a dozen combat vehicles are visible. OTRK "Iskander-M" located in Kaliningrad and along the borders with the Baltic states.
Group start of OTR type 9М723К5 or similar complex 9К720 "Iskander-M" and OTR 9М79 of complexes 9К79-1 "Point-U" during the exercise "Center-2011", Kapustin Yar polygon, XNNXNNXXNNXXNNXXNNXX 22.09.2011-XNUMX "Tochka-U" .ru)
Information about the missile systems deployed in the Kaliningrad region appeared on Saturday and over the weekend became one of the main topics in European media. On Monday, an official comment appeared from the Russian military. The head of the press service and information department of the Defense Ministry, Major General I. Konashenkov, stated that the Iskander-M complexes were indeed in service with the missile forces and artillery of the Western Military District. In addition, he noted that the areas of deployment of rocket complexes fully comply with all international agreements and do not contradict them. Thus, Russia exercised its right to place weapons and military equipment on its own territory at its discretion.
However, neighboring countries have already managed to express their dissatisfaction with Russian actions. Several Eastern European countries are concerned about the deployment of the Iskander-M missile systems in the Kaliningrad region and have published relevant statements. For example, Poland, before the announcement of official information, stated the need to verify the information published by the newspaper Bild. In addition, the Polish Foreign Ministry believes that the deployment of Russian missiles in the Kaliningrad region affects not only the nearby Eastern European states, but also the North Atlantic Alliance. Polish diplomats believe that such steps from the Russian side can have a negative effect on the spirit of positive cooperation between NATO and Russia. October 19 is to host a meeting of the Russia-Poland Strategic Committee. Probably one of the main topics of these negotiations will be missile systems near Kaliningrad.
Estonian diplomats and the military are also concerned about the strengthening of the Russian rocket forces and artillery. Estonian Defense Minister U. Reinsalu intends to discuss this topic with other NATO countries. At the same time, however, the Estonian Minister of Defense does not consider the appearance of Iskander in the Kaliningrad region to be something unexpected. He recalled that the missile systems of this model were recently used in the course of the exercise "West-2013". Nevertheless, the Estonian military intend to continue to monitor the development of the Russian armed forces.
The Minister of Defense of Latvia, A. Pabriks, is not inclined to perceive the new Iskander-M OTRK as an additional danger to their country. He agrees that missile systems can affect the situation in the region, but does not consider them capable of posing a greater threat. In addition, the Latvian military are hoping for NATO assistance.
The SPU 9P78-1 with the 9М723 ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M missile system 9K720 of the first serial brigade set on the day of the transfer of the 107 RBD equipment. Kapustin Yar, 28.06.2013 (http://i-korotchenko.livejournal.com)
Official Vilnius is going to continue to monitor the situation, as stated by the Minister of Defense of Lithuania Y. Olekas. Strengthening Russian missile forces near the borders is cause for concern. However, Lithuanian Prime Minister A. Butkevicius was not inclined to regard Iskander-M OTRK as an additional threat to his country.
Finally, in discussing the latest news, the United States demonstrated its position. According to State Department spokesman M. Harf, Washington and Moscow have already discussed the issue of deploying missile systems in the Kaliningrad region. Taking into account the position and interests of Eastern European countries, the United States urged Russia not to destabilize the situation in the region. M. Harf did not specify when the American side last made such statements. Like other interested countries, the United States will continue to monitor the situation.
It should be noted that the topic of placing Iskander-M OTRK in the Kaliningrad region is not new. Back in 2011, Russian President D. Medvedev stated that if the construction of the Euro-Atlantic missile defense system in Eastern Europe is continued, our country reserves the right to an asymmetric response. In particular, it was argued that operational-tactical missile systems of the new model could be deployed on the western frontiers of the country. Since then, Iskander-M complexes have regularly appeared in international news in the context of the military-political situation in Eastern Europe.
Immediately after the statements of D. Medvedev, it became clear what kind of combat tasks the missile complexes located on the western borders of Russia, including in the Kaliningrad region, will have. The firing range of 400 kilometers (according to some sources, up to 480 km) will allow you to “keep at gunpoint” fairly large areas. Thus, Iskanders located in the Kaliningrad region are capable of striking at several Euro-Atlantic missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe, which are still under construction. In the event of the start of a full-scale conflict, Russian missile systems will have to destroy missile defense facilities, ensuring the safety of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Some of the available information does not allow us to consider the deployment of the Iskander-M OTRK near Kaliningrad as an unexpected and unexpected event. So, the head of the Estonian military department U. Reinsalu a few days ago recalled that the military equipment of this model was already used during the exercises "West-2013". In addition, information appeared quite a long time ago, according to which during this year several subunits of rocket forces and artillery were to receive new complexes. As you can see, the divisions located at the western borders of the country became the owners of this technology.
Thus, the situation with the Iskander-M missile systems is simple, but interesting. Russia continues to re-equip and increases the combat capability of the missile forces and artillery of the Western Military District, equipping them with new complexes. The location of some of the parts receiving the new technology is such that the Iskander-M OTRK are involved in geopolitical games of regional significance. Updating the equipment of the armed forces, Russia complies with all international rules and regulations. Because of this, a number of Eastern European states can only continue to monitor the situation and occasionally make various appeals or even protests. However, due to a competent policy, Russia may not pay attention to such statements. As a result, interested or dissatisfied parties can only observe what is happening and wait for further developments.
On the materials of the sites:
http://bild.de/
http://ria.ru/
http://itar-tass.com/
http://interfax.ru/
Group start of OTR type 9М723К5 or similar complex 9К720 "Iskander-M" and OTR 9М79 of complexes 9К79-1 "Point-U" during the exercise "Center-2011", Kapustin Yar polygon, XNNXNNXXNNXXNNXXNNXX 22.09.2011-XNUMX "Tochka-U" .ru)
Information about the missile systems deployed in the Kaliningrad region appeared on Saturday and over the weekend became one of the main topics in European media. On Monday, an official comment appeared from the Russian military. The head of the press service and information department of the Defense Ministry, Major General I. Konashenkov, stated that the Iskander-M complexes were indeed in service with the missile forces and artillery of the Western Military District. In addition, he noted that the areas of deployment of rocket complexes fully comply with all international agreements and do not contradict them. Thus, Russia exercised its right to place weapons and military equipment on its own territory at its discretion.
However, neighboring countries have already managed to express their dissatisfaction with Russian actions. Several Eastern European countries are concerned about the deployment of the Iskander-M missile systems in the Kaliningrad region and have published relevant statements. For example, Poland, before the announcement of official information, stated the need to verify the information published by the newspaper Bild. In addition, the Polish Foreign Ministry believes that the deployment of Russian missiles in the Kaliningrad region affects not only the nearby Eastern European states, but also the North Atlantic Alliance. Polish diplomats believe that such steps from the Russian side can have a negative effect on the spirit of positive cooperation between NATO and Russia. October 19 is to host a meeting of the Russia-Poland Strategic Committee. Probably one of the main topics of these negotiations will be missile systems near Kaliningrad.
Estonian diplomats and the military are also concerned about the strengthening of the Russian rocket forces and artillery. Estonian Defense Minister U. Reinsalu intends to discuss this topic with other NATO countries. At the same time, however, the Estonian Minister of Defense does not consider the appearance of Iskander in the Kaliningrad region to be something unexpected. He recalled that the missile systems of this model were recently used in the course of the exercise "West-2013". Nevertheless, the Estonian military intend to continue to monitor the development of the Russian armed forces.
The Minister of Defense of Latvia, A. Pabriks, is not inclined to perceive the new Iskander-M OTRK as an additional danger to their country. He agrees that missile systems can affect the situation in the region, but does not consider them capable of posing a greater threat. In addition, the Latvian military are hoping for NATO assistance.
The SPU 9P78-1 with the 9М723 ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M missile system 9K720 of the first serial brigade set on the day of the transfer of the 107 RBD equipment. Kapustin Yar, 28.06.2013 (http://i-korotchenko.livejournal.com)
Official Vilnius is going to continue to monitor the situation, as stated by the Minister of Defense of Lithuania Y. Olekas. Strengthening Russian missile forces near the borders is cause for concern. However, Lithuanian Prime Minister A. Butkevicius was not inclined to regard Iskander-M OTRK as an additional threat to his country.
Finally, in discussing the latest news, the United States demonstrated its position. According to State Department spokesman M. Harf, Washington and Moscow have already discussed the issue of deploying missile systems in the Kaliningrad region. Taking into account the position and interests of Eastern European countries, the United States urged Russia not to destabilize the situation in the region. M. Harf did not specify when the American side last made such statements. Like other interested countries, the United States will continue to monitor the situation.
It should be noted that the topic of placing Iskander-M OTRK in the Kaliningrad region is not new. Back in 2011, Russian President D. Medvedev stated that if the construction of the Euro-Atlantic missile defense system in Eastern Europe is continued, our country reserves the right to an asymmetric response. In particular, it was argued that operational-tactical missile systems of the new model could be deployed on the western frontiers of the country. Since then, Iskander-M complexes have regularly appeared in international news in the context of the military-political situation in Eastern Europe.
Immediately after the statements of D. Medvedev, it became clear what kind of combat tasks the missile complexes located on the western borders of Russia, including in the Kaliningrad region, will have. The firing range of 400 kilometers (according to some sources, up to 480 km) will allow you to “keep at gunpoint” fairly large areas. Thus, Iskanders located in the Kaliningrad region are capable of striking at several Euro-Atlantic missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe, which are still under construction. In the event of the start of a full-scale conflict, Russian missile systems will have to destroy missile defense facilities, ensuring the safety of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Some of the available information does not allow us to consider the deployment of the Iskander-M OTRK near Kaliningrad as an unexpected and unexpected event. So, the head of the Estonian military department U. Reinsalu a few days ago recalled that the military equipment of this model was already used during the exercises "West-2013". In addition, information appeared quite a long time ago, according to which during this year several subunits of rocket forces and artillery were to receive new complexes. As you can see, the divisions located at the western borders of the country became the owners of this technology.
Thus, the situation with the Iskander-M missile systems is simple, but interesting. Russia continues to re-equip and increases the combat capability of the missile forces and artillery of the Western Military District, equipping them with new complexes. The location of some of the parts receiving the new technology is such that the Iskander-M OTRK are involved in geopolitical games of regional significance. Updating the equipment of the armed forces, Russia complies with all international rules and regulations. Because of this, a number of Eastern European states can only continue to monitor the situation and occasionally make various appeals or even protests. However, due to a competent policy, Russia may not pay attention to such statements. As a result, interested or dissatisfied parties can only observe what is happening and wait for further developments.
On the materials of the sites:
http://bild.de/
http://ria.ru/
http://itar-tass.com/
http://interfax.ru/
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