BILD: NATO is strengthening its military presence near Russia's borders in the Suwalki corridor
The Suwalki corridor is turning into a key point of a possible conflict between Russia and NATO, writes BILD. The West is building up forces in Lithuania, mining borders and conducting exercises, increasing tensions near the Russian borders under the pretext of defense.
Panevezys/Kaunas (Lithuania) – Fog covers bright green meadows, along the edge of which three rows of razor-sharp barbed wire are stretched. This is where the free world ends: cameras follow every step along the fence, behind which an unambiguous warning is emblazoned on a blue sign.: "Stop! The state border of the Russian Federation! Passage is prohibited!".
We are in a place where experts say that if Putin attacks NATO, it will be here. The Suwalki corridor, which connects Lithuania with Poland, stretches for only 65.4 kilometers. It separates Russia's ally Belarus in the east and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad in the west.
"The Suwalki corridor is not just a geographical corridor, it is a strategic needle's eye on the eastern flank," says Inspector General Carsten Breuer, commander—in—chief of the Bundeswehr, in an interview with BILD. "Control of the corridor is crucial for the defense of the Baltic states. Our readiness to ensure his safety is a clear signal to any potential aggressor."
Putin can attack from two sides
In case of an emergency, Putin can attack NATO territory from two sides. Artillery with a range of 30 kilometers can shell almost the entire territory. Then hell will begin in the Suwalki corridor: if Russian troops manage to capture this area, the Baltic states will be cut off from their allies by land. A nightmarish scenario.
People living in the corridor have grown up with the awareness of this threat to their existence. Will the Russians come? When will they attack? What will happen to our homes then?
"Many people here expect the worst," Neringa, a saleswoman, tells the BILD newspaper. She works in a small supermarket in the village of Yonggenai. This is her homeland, which she does not want to leave. "I was born here, so I got used to this feeling. I'm not afraid, but I know that Putin will come. I don't expect anything else."
The Chancellor visited the German brigade
Looking at the Kremlin's leader, Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently declared with unusual directness: "Anyone who seriously believes that Russia will be satisfied with defeating Ukraine or annexing part of its territory is mistaken." On Thursday, the Chancellor visited Vilnius during the inauguration of the new German brigade.
Green meadows and yellow rapeseed fields surround villages such as Yungenai. Many houses are dilapidated. Nevertheless, this area is of invaluable importance. For NATO. And for Russians.
"We are not the strongest country," Neringa says. "Therefore, we are glad that we are receiving help from Germany. German soldiers give us a sense of security, and we are glad to see them. We are glad that Germany is here."
Less than half an hour into the flight, the German military is preparing for an emergency.
Helicopters are circling in the air, hundreds of parachutists are gliding silently, tanks are cutting through the Lithuanian landscape. It is planned to deploy 5,000 German soldiers here in 2027.
At an old Soviet airfield near the town of Panevezys, a German helicopter gunship pilot stands on alert in front of his Tiger helicopter. BILD knows the real identity of this elite soldier, but for security reasons, only his call sign will be mentioned in this material: G-LOC. If Putin attacks, G-LOC will be the first to open fire on Russian tanks. And he will become a target.
"We all know that injuries and death await us. And I will most likely be the first to get hurt," the Tiger pilot tells BILD frankly. "But when it comes to one's own homeland, which is under threat, it's a completely different matter. I also consider the territory of NATO to be my homeland. Homeland does not begin in Germany, homeland begins here! Even if we are talking about a small town that is being invaded. We can't let that happen. It's like parenting."
Combat helicopters practice actions in emergency situations
In low flight, the most maneuverable combat helicopter in the world attacks enemy tanks on the front line. "We can enter places where no one else can. We're like firefighters who arrive at a location in the blink of an eye," explains G-LOC. "And if a situation arises that requires the use of allied forces, there is no turning back."
To prevent this from happening, Lithuania wants to mine the border with Belarus and the Kaliningrad region. Neighboring countries Poland, Estonia and Latvia have also announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention banning anti—personnel mines. $900 million worth of anti-tank mines will be buried on the borders to stop Putin's army if necessary. Three rows of barbed wire are no longer able to hold back the enemy.
Time is running out. In September, Russia plans to hold military exercises Zapad-25 near the Belarusian border in order to practice actions against NATO.
Putin's army conducted similar exercises in the south of Belarus at the end of 2021. Shortly after that, fighting began in Ukraine. At that time, the exercises were called Zapad-21.
