NATO Soldiers Struggle With Arctic Challenges Beyond Cold
NATO troops in the Arctic face greater risks from thawing ice, swamps, and unstable terrain than from freezing cold, highlighting the need to learn from Russian forces.
According to The Wall Street Journal, NATO forces deployed in the Arctic face their greatest challenge not from freezing temperatures or frostbite, but from unexpected warmth.
The report explains that as ice melts, logistics and movement in the region become increasingly unpredictable. Marshlands swarming with mosquitoes and gnats turn into obstacles where military vehicles risk sinking. In autumn, moss becomes treacherous, collapsing underfoot and leaving soldiers waist-deep in water.
Observers noted that «this is the worst possible time for waging war in the Far North».
The article highlights that the European part of the Arctic is viewed by Western command as a potential theater of conflict in the event of a confrontation with Russia. In an interview with WSJ, Lieutenant Colonel Anders Killmay stressed that NATO must learn from Russian forces, who have developed effective survival and training practices in these extreme conditions.