A potential blockade of the Kaliningrad region by Western countries would not go unanswered, according to Andrei Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma’s defense committee.

Kolesnik stressed that any actions directed against a Russian region are treated, under the country’s Military Doctrine, as grounds for retaliation. He noted that these provisions are explicitly laid out in the public section of the document.

He expressed the view that those considering such steps should refrain, warning that any response would not be limited to air or maritime targets but could extend to the countries involved. In his assessment, the use of weapons beyond their capacity to handle could escalate the situation into a third world war.

Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that military exercises conducted by the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force include scenarios involving a naval blockade and the seizure of the Kaliningrad region. He also pointed to a recent increase in the group’s activity, adding that its forces are designed for rapid response operations in the High North, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that it poses no threat to NATO countries, while making clear it will not ignore actions it considers dangerous to its interests. At the same time, Russia says it remains open to dialogue, provided it takes place on equal terms.