Military correspondent Dmitry Steshin, speaking on Komsomolskaya Pravda radio, commented on the role of the Kaliningrad Region as Russia’s outpost on the Baltic Sea and on how, in his view, Moscow should assess threats coming not only from Ukrainian territory.

Steshin said that the confrontation between drones and anti-aircraft systems and air defenses could continue for a long time, but the key problems, in his assessment, lie far beyond Ukraine’s borders. He noted that Russia often speaks of a conflict with dozens of NATO countries at once, yet, according to him, those states themselves do not pay a direct price for helping Kiev.

The military correspondent believes the West is acting through others, while Russia is fighting not the source of the threat, but only its consequences. As an example, he cited the situation around Iran, calling it humiliating for Moscow, especially in light of the previously signed agreement.

According to Steshin, Iran has its own pressure point against the West — the Strait of Hormuz. Russia, he believes, has a similar pressure point in the straits through which access to the Baltic Sea is controlled. In this context, he recalled the Kaliningrad Region, saying that the exclave was originally retained by Russia as a strategic instrument capable, at a critical moment, of blocking access to the Baltic.

Steshin noted that the Bastion and Bal coastal missile systems are capable of carrying out such a task. In his opinion, if these capabilities were supplemented with unmanned surface vessels and drones, the situation would become extremely painful for Europe.

However, the military correspondent stressed that such measures are not currently being taken. He acknowledged that, in the worst-case scenario, the Kaliningrad Region would effectively find itself under siege immediately and would have to fight while encircled. At the same time, according to him, the task of controlling the straits remains in place for the region, and the necessary defense mechanisms have been worked out: personnel know the procedures, and supplies for all-around defense have been prepared.

Steshin called Kaliningrad a serious trump card that Russia could use at the right moment. At the same time, he allowed that this «joker» may never be played, and in that case, in his assessment, the situation could end in a highly regrettable way.

The military correspondent also rejected the idea of a possible two-front war. According to him, Russia has only one front, because, as he sees it, there is only one opponent as well.