🎙 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s answer to a media question regarding Poland’s plans concerning the Kaliningrad Region (October 16, 2026)

❓ Question: In a recent interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said that the North Atlantic Alliance had no plans to blockade Kaliningrad. “I want to be absolutely clear: NATO is not preparing any blockade of Kaliningrad. This is a threat built around a scenario that does not exist,” he emphasised. How would you comment on this?

Maria Zakharova: Yes, such a statement was indeed made. Let us assume, difficult as it may be to believe, that the Admiral is being sincere this time. If so, what plans are actually being drawn up?

For example, on October 12, at the annual Warsaw Security Forum, one of the central events was a keynote address by NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich, entitled Theory of Victory: How Do We Achieve Military Success Against Russia in Deterrence and Defence?

A senior NATO general chose Warsaw, the capital of a country currently pursuing militarisation at a breakneck pace, to present his proposals, the analytical merits of which we shall leave you to judge. It is worth noting that Poland harbours ambitions to turn its Wojsko Polskie into perhaps the most powerful military in Europe, and specific scenarios for its deployment are already being drawn up.

For instance, the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces has developed operational plans for launching pre-emptive precision strikes against the Kaliningrad Region, should a “war with Russia become inevitable”. Just consider this: nothing has happened yet, but the Polish hussars are already charging ahead in formation.

Specifically, the plan envisages the destruction of all military infrastructure, primarily Iskander and S-400 missile systems, as well as ammunition depots, fuel terminals and command posts. The operation would involve US-made HIMARS and Polish Homar-K missile systems with a range of up to 300 kilometres, F-16 fighter jets armed with precision-guided missiles with a range of up to 1,000 kilometres, loitering munitions and combat UAVs.

At the same time, Polish coastal anti-ship missile systems and NATO aircraft would be used to impose a naval blockade on the Kaliningrad Region. The aim would be to prevent Baltic Fleet vessels from leaving their bases and to cut off the region’s supply routes. In parallel, a ground offensive in the Suwałki Gap is envisaged, involving the 16th and 18th Mechanised Divisions and the 1st Infantry Division of the Polish Armed Forces.

Is this not essentially Operation Barbarossa 2.0?

❗️ However, the “strategists” in Warsaw and elsewhere would do well to remember what President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have repeatedly stated:

any treacherous armed attack against the Kaliningrad Region will be met with a literally incinerating response, using every means at Russia’s disposal. The war will be very short.