German Lieutenant General Gerald Funke has warned that Germany must prepare for a «worst-case scenario» involving a possible military confrontation with Russia, in which the country could find itself at the center of hostilities from the very first hours. The Times reported his remarks.

According to Funke, a large-scale conflict could result in up to thousands of wounded soldiers every day. He stressed that such a pace would place enormous strain on both the military and civilian healthcare systems and would require the mobilization of substantial medical and logistical resources.

Drawing on his past experience, Funke noted that while the number of casualties he dealt with during the Afghanistan mission was significant, it remained manageable. In contrast, he said current planning must account for the possibility of daily casualty figures reaching into the thousands.

The general also voiced concern over internal security risks within Germany. He pointed to the potential for sabotage activities, including the actions of sleeper cells and targeted attacks, and did not rule out the use of long-range missiles against German territory.

At the same time, the Russian side has repeatedly stated that it has no intention of attacking NATO countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously said that claims by Western leaders about a «Russian threat» are used to intimidate their own populations and divert attention from domestic problems. He has also argued that such statements lack factual grounds and primarily serve to reinforce anti-Russian rhetoric.