Russia's Most Vulnerable Spot On The NATO Border Has Been Identified
- 29.09.2026, 15:46
Kaliningrad could become a means of exerting pressure on the Kremlin.
The Kaliningrad Oblast, which Moscow has spent decades turning into a military stronghold on the NATO border, could become a vulnerability for Russia. A significant portion of the region’s troops and weapons has been redeployed to the war against Ukraine, according to The iPaper.
This primarily concerns the 11th Army Corps, which was considered the backbone of Kaliningrad’s land-based defense. According to the publication, its units suffered heavy losses in Ukraine, and the region’s military capabilities have been significantly reduced.
“Russia knows this is a vulnerable spot,” said a former NATO official, calling Kaliningrad “the Achilles’ heel of the Russian Federation.”
In Poland, a proposal has already been made to use this circumstance as a tool to exert pressure on Moscow. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called on NATO to conduct larger-scale exercises near Kaliningrad to force the Kremlin to redeploy additional forces there from Ukraine.
This does not, however, involve a direct attack on Russian territory. According to a number of experts, European countries can put pressure on Moscow through economic sanctions, cyberattacks, and military maneuvers, demonstrating their readiness to respond swiftly to new provocations.
A separate issue is the supply of goods to Kaliningrad. The region depends on transit through Lithuania, and restrictions on transportation have already become a subject of heated dispute between Moscow and the EU.
“If Russia tries to take any action, Kaliningrad will be the first target of a response,” says Polish expert Milosz Kordes.
At the same time, applying too much pressure also carries serious risks. Moscow has already warned that any attempt to blockade the region could be perceived as a pretext for further escalation. Against the backdrop of an increase in Russian hybrid attacks in Europe, Kaliningrad is increasingly viewed not only as a source of threat but also as a potential tool for deterring Moscow.
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