Wargame simulates how Russian could invade Nato country this year using fake ‘humanitarian crisis’
Nato carries out wargame where Russia invades another European country
- A wargame conducted by ex-German and NATO officials simulated a Russian invasion of Lithuania, concluding Moscow would achieve most of its objectives within days.
- The scenario involved Russia seizing the Lithuanian city of Marijampole, a critical road intersection, under the pretext of a 'humanitarian crisis' in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
- In the simulation, the US declined to invoke NATO's Article 5, while Germany showed hesitancy and Poland mobilised but did not send troops to defend Lithuania.
- The wargame suggested that an absence of US leadership and reluctance from NATO countries could allow Russia to gain control over the Baltic region rapidly with only 15,000 troops.
- The exercise was carried out amidst increasing European concerns about a potential Russian attack on NATO, following repeated incursions of Russian military assets into alliance territory.
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