Fears of a wider European conflict are mounting after Germany’s top military commander warned that Russia could launch an attack on NATO territory “as early as tomorrow.”
Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, who leads Germany’s Joint Operations Command, issued the chilling assessment from his headquarters, saying that despite the heavy toll of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s air power, missile systems, and nuclear arsenal remain intact.
“If you look at Russia’s current capabilities and combat power, Russia could kick off a small-scale attack against NATO territory as early as tomorrow,” he told reports, stressing that such an assault would likely be “small, quick, and regionally limited.”
Still Armed and Dangerous
General Sollfrank cautioned that while Moscow’s ground forces have taken major hits, its wider military capability remains formidable.
“The ground forces are suffering losses,” he explained, “but Russia says it aims to boost its total troop numbers to 1.5 million soldiers. And it still has enough main battle tanks to make a limited attack conceivable as early as tomorrow.”
He added that Russia’s naval forces outside the Black Sea have not been significantly weakened, despite Ukraine’s recent successes in damaging the Black Sea Fleet.
The warning echoes NATO assessments that Russia could be ready to mount a large-scale assault on the alliance by 2029 if rearmament continues at pace.
Putin’s Denial
President Vladimir Putin continues to deny any plans to attack NATO, insisting that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine was a defensive move, a reaction, he claims, to NATO’s expansion into what Russia considers its sphere of influence.
But western analysts are sceptical. Many believe the Kremlin’s nuclear posturing and rhetoric are meant to intimidate Europe and test NATO’s resolve, particularly as the war in Ukraine drags on.
Europe on Alert
General Sollfrank said the likelihood of any Russian attack will depend on three core factors: Moscow’s military strength, its recent combat record, and the decisions of its leadership.
However, he warned that global reactions, particularly how NATO countries respond, could ultimately determine whether Putin acts.
Across the continent, European nations are already taking steps to strengthen their defences. Poland, for instance, has announced its largest national defence training programme since the end of the Cold War.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told TVP Info that up to 400,000 citizens will be trained in basic military, medical, and cyber-resilience skills by 2027, a move designed to prepare civilians for any potential threat.
A Chilling Possibility
For many, General Sollfrank’s words are a reminder that the world is entering a new and uncertain era, one where deterrence is no longer guaranteed.
“Russia is still dangerous,” he warned. “And we cannot afford to assume otherwise.”
