Reinforcing Kaliningrad: Russia’s menacing move on Europe

SATELLITE images reveal Moscow is massively reinforcing its strategic Kaliningrad outpost, positioned like a knife at the throat of NATO in the Baltic Sea.

NEW bunkers. New missiles. Upgraded air bases. Expanded stocks of weapons. Moscow’s up to something at its Kaliningrad enclave — a heavily militarised outpost aimed at the heart of Europe.

CNN reports it has been given satellite imagery which reveals a rapid-paced expansion and renovation of at least four key military installations in the territory which sits like a thorn between Poland, the Baltic Sea and former Soviet Union states including Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

A US defence official has called the upgrade “the biggest move we’ve seen” by Russia towards militarising its Baltic enclave.

“If they want to challenge us, we will challenge them,” says Admiral James G. Foggo III, the commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa. “We’re not going to be intimidated by those systems that are out there.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech under the rain during celebrations for Navy Day in Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region. Picture: AFP

BALTIC FORTRESS

Kaliningrad is isolated from mainland Russia, sitting on the Baltic coast some 480km west of the nation’s borders.

It has been an increasing headache for NATO in recent years.

Bombers, fighters, submarines and warships have frequently surged from its heavily defended bases to simulate attacks on nations ranging from Norway and Demark in the west to Finland and Sweden in the east.

It has prompted nations such as Sweden to warn its citizens of the pending threat of war, along with a defensive build-up of NATO forces throughout the Baltic region.

Now Moscow appears set to up the ante.

New #ImageSat #intelligence report: https://t.co/cJvRXLtoPr#Russia expands its #military abilities in #Kaliningrad: Construction and renovation activity is seen in 152 #SSM unit base, a #nuclear storage site, Chaklovsk #airbase and a storage area near Primorsk.@CNN #SitRoom pic.twitter.com/19N66rYFaa

— imagesatintl (@imagesatint) October 18, 2018

And it extends beyond the Baltic.

It shares a short border with Norway in Europe’s extreme north. Russian troops have been repositioned nearby, and bombers and ships regularly pass close by.

KALININGRAD: Russia’s fortress aimed at Europe

In response, the US has increased the number of troops it has stationed in Norway. An exercise later this year, Trident Juncture, will bring 50,000 troops, 150 aircraft and 65 ships together in a major display of force.

Last year, Russia conducted large-scale military manoeuvres in the eastern Baltic. Its scale was allegedly far in excess of that permitted by international treaty.

AREA DENIAL

NATO officials are worried Russia may be adopting a similar tactic to China — heavily fortifying its remote bases to the extent that they are capable of completely ‘locking-down’ the surrounding region.

In tactical terms, it’s called anti-access/area denial (A2AD).

Russia 🇷🇺 expands its military abilities in Kaliningrad - great satellite imageries by iSi providing useful updates how four military sites in #KaliningradOblast have been recently upgraded.
👉https://t.co/HCZLZzN1EL pic.twitter.com/bW05WMhf0M

— Cezary S. (@cezarysta) October 18, 2018

It’s intention is to limit the potential of ships, aircraft — and other transportation systems such as railways and highways — through a region.

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High resolution images supplied to CNN by the commercial ImageSat International firm show extensive work undway throughout the enclave.

One includes a nuclear weapons storage site, where work appears to be extending beneath an already exposed bunker.

CNN has report on Russian military upgrades in Kaliningrad enclave https://t.co/cbHblgUqWN Report just made it to The Situation Room. Report includes link to my report from June about construction work at apparent nuclear weapons storage bunker: https://t.co/O5bmxihIW2 pic.twitter.com/4Jqa6WMPVE

— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) October 17, 2018

A base housing a missile brigade at Chernyakhovsk, which received new nuclear-capable Iskander missiles earlier this year, is also being heavily upgraded.

A separate cluster of 40 new bunkers have already been completed near the port of Primorsk.

The Chkalovsk air base has a new railway line bringing in supplies and materials, along with a new all-weather landing system.