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Russia reportedly plans 16,000 hospital beds for troops near Baltics
Russian authorities are reportedly preparing hospitals near the Baltic states to treat possible casualties, according to media reports . Experts say the move could be linked not only to the ongoing war against Ukraine, but also to a potential escalation of tensions with NATO countries.
Russia is planning to reserve 16,000 beds in civilian hospitals in the country’s northwest for military personnel this fall, according to the Russian Telegram channel Volya, which cited sources in the Russian Ministry of Defense. One of the channel’s sources said the number could reach as high as 20,000 beds.
Former German Defense Ministry official Nico Lange told Bild that preparations on this scale cannot be explained solely by the needs of Russia’s military in Ukraine. Russia is currently continuing to expand its infrastructure and military facilities along its western border. Lange said Moscow is seeking to change the European order and is prepared to use force to achieve its aims. He also pointed to Russian military activity in the Baltic region, including repeated violations of airspace and interference with GPS systems, as further evidence of this policy.
Meanwhile, CDU Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter said the additional hospital capacity could be linked to possible Russian plans for escalation against certain NATO states. At the same time, he noted that it could also be an attempt to intimidate Western countries and undermine their continued support for Ukraine. Kiesewetter suggested both objectives may be at play.
Earlier, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Giuseppe Cavo Dragone stated that the Alliance is prepared for possible provocations and military scenarios on its eastern flank. He said Russia would suffer greater losses than it would gain if a conflict breaks out.
Recently, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that intelligence assessments indicate Russia may be planning “hybrid strikes” using drones and missiles against countries that support Ukraine, particularly Poland. Tusk said Russia could attack NATO countries.
