Russia accelerates preparations for war with NATO

At the moment when the United States Senate began to discuss the approval of a package with more than US$61 billion in military aid to Ukraine, which has already passed in the Chamber, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with leaders country’s military to draw up plans for what would be a war with NATO.

Shoigu made reference to the package expected to be approved this week, saying that Washington’s money will boost the United States’ arms industry.

In the balance of the conflict in Ukraine, he said that the Russians conquered three villages in the last few hours, Pervomaisk, Bogdanovka and Novomykhailivka.

There are strong indications that Ukraine’s weakened defenses in Lugansk province, under constant attack, are giving way.

Shoigu told those he commanded that Washington was interfering to prevent “collapse.”

A NATO WAR

He stated that Ukraine’s military actions are guided by NATO, from the air base that the United States maintains in Germany.

He also stated that Western alliance operations, involving 90,000 men, are taking place in several places, including Sweden’s new “border” — recently admitted to NATO — and even in the Arctic.

According to Shoigu, this requires the reorganization of the Russian Army in the Moscow and St. Petersburg regions.

He also said production of some essential items for Russian forces will double by 2024.

He referred to a revamped version of the Prometheus system, intended to attack enemy missiles and planes.

Ukrainian pilots were trained to fly F-16 fighters supplied by several countries, including Denmark and the Netherlands.

The expectation is that the fighters will begin operating in June, in an attempt to confront Russian air superiority.

1 MILLION DEATHS?

According to figures released by both sides, more than 1 million Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have already died in just over two years of conflict.

The expectation is that the fighting will intensify when Ukraine begins to use more modern defense and attack systems financed by Washington’s aid package.

Among them, long-range missiles capable of detonating the bridge that connects Crimea to Russian territory, a favorite of Vladimir Putin that symbolizes the territory’s accession to Russia.

Shoigu said the Russians have already demonstrated in Ukraine that they can defeat Western technological capabilities. Opening the meeting, he seemed more concerned with sending the message that Moscow is prepared for all-out war.