Awaiting victims and destruction. What does NATO need to respond to Putin's provocation

Russia continues to provoke NATO member states on armed conflict. From the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian missiles have flown into Poland three times, and Drons-Kamikadze-into Romania. Focus has learned why the Alliance's collective security rule is still not working. In November 2022, explosions in the Lublin Voivodeship, near the village of Pshevoduv, near the Ukrainian border.

Then two Poles were killed in the explosion that coincided in time with the Russian air attack on Ukraine. At the scene, the remains of a Soviet production rocket was found, which could actually be in service in the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Upon the incident, the Polish authorities announced that it launches Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, that is, the beginning of consultations in case of threat. There was no further development.

In April 2023, a winged X-55 rocket was found in the forest near the Polish city of Bidgosch. It is worth noting that Ukraine does not have such weapons, so the version of the Ukrainian trace is impossible this time. In this situation, it is interesting that the city of Bidgosch has the unofficial status of the "Eastern capital" of NATO. It is here that the Joint Force Training Center is located at alliance member state officers.

Also here are conducted annually by multinational training of Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exercise to develop interoperability, test new technologies of telecommunications, cyber defense and other technical solutions and relevant operating scenarios of their combat use. Bydgoszch has an international airport, which is also used by the military and the airplane that was previously used to repair military aircraft.

Currently, it is only known about the service of commercial aviation and helicopters. On December 29 last year, Poland's military command reported on the fixing on the radars of an unknown purpose that flew into the country and then returned to the Ukrainian airspace. It was during the next Russian rocket attack. It is noteworthy that the goal was recorded in the Lublin Voivodeship, as in November 2022.

On the same day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a telephone conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda on this incident. Traditionally, anxiety and solidarity have been expressed for the Alliance. "NATO is solidarity with our dear ally, monitors the situation, and we will keep in contact as the facts are established. NATO retains vigilance," Stoltenberg wrote in X (former Twitter). Poland is not the only western neighbor of Ukraine who comes from Russian air terror.

In September, the Russian "Shahledi" attacked Romanian border villages on the Danube shore. Only on the fifth day, Romanian authorities recognized the fact of the attack and offered local residents. Subsequently, Deputy Secretary General of Alliance Mirce Joan expressed the opinion that there was no signs that the Russian Federation deliberately attacked the territory of Romania. He also noted that there is no danger to the country.

That is, NATO does not even plan to start advice on the use of article 5. No such incident was recorded in the territories of Hungary and Slovakia, which also have a common border with Ukraine. It can be assumed that this is due to the refusal of their national governments to provide military support to Kiev.

According to the military analyst of Petro Chernyk, the lack of attacks on the territory of these countries is explained by the allied relations of the premiere of Fitzo and Orban with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. "They are allies of the Kremlin, so nothing happens there," he says focus. Poland and Romania have developed transport infrastructure, logistics warehouses used for the needs of Ukraine, with Hungary and Slovakia.

With every new NATO statement about anxiety and solidarity, they are increasingly acquiring the signs of comic. It was NATO for many years that the Cold War had the image of a warlike organization, ready to repel any armed threat towards its participants. Indeed, the principle of collective defense is fixed in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty (North Atlantic Treaty), but it is not automatically activated.

To do this, the Atlantic Council should gather and determine that this incident was a deliberate act of armed aggression against the Alliance Member Country. In the future, alliance member states can provide any assistance that is considered appropriate according to the circumstances. It is a duty of each country, and each country will decide what help it considers it appropriate to provide in each case. That is, there is no direct rule on the military confrontation of all NATO participants.

"In order to react NATO, a true act of armed aggression against a member country is needed. This may be, for example, an invasion It was or not, it is not necessary to wait for any action. Russia provokes such cases - a lot of airspace, flights at extremely low heights, provocative actions in the sea. It has long been burning, " - explains the focus military expert Pavel Narozhny.

According to Peter Chernyk, the Kremlin is currently checking Europe and NATO how far it can go in its provocations and where it is allowed. That is why such incidents will continue, and the Alliance will continue to make political statements about solidarity and support. According to Pavel Nazhny, NATO countries are changing their approaches to national defense, taking into account the threat from the Russian Federation.

For example, Poland began to attract its fighter aviation in the patrol of airspace during rocket danger to Ukraine. "The Polish command monitors the situation in more detail, according to the radar, and began to raise the F-16. There is no question in savings at this time, for understanding-one hour of F-16 flight costs about $ 40,000. "NATO treaty no one will now, there must be an act of armed aggression.

For example, a multinational battalion of NATO is placed in Latvia, so that in the case of a Russian invasion, which analysts warn, the losses in all countries," - comments the expert. We will remind, during the air attack of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine on January 2 the Polish command raised four fighter jets of the F-16 and the airline. The departures came from the Air Base of Lasing and Kshesina.

It should be clarified that the standard weapons of the F-16 makes it possible to dispose of winged missiles, but not ballistic. On January 3, NATO announced that it would help buy up to a thousand missiles for Patriot complexes of European members of the Alliance. It is known that this group will include Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain. Whether something will be transferred to Ukraine is not reported at this time.