Russia is already effectively at war with NATO because the alliance’s member states are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine by supplying weapons and ammunition that are subsequently used in strikes on Moscow and other Russian cities, according to retired Russian Interior Ministry Major General and adviser to the interior minister Vladimir Ovchinsky. He made the remarks on the Tsargrad program «Itogi Dnya s Delyaginym.»

In his assessment, the question is no longer whether a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO could occur in the future, but how far attacks on Russian territory may go. At the same time, Ovchinsky outlined a possible Russian response.

In particular, the retired general suggested that the Oreshnik missile system could be used against military infrastructure in Rzeszów, Poland. According to him, significant quantities of NATO armored vehicles are concentrated there, while airfields hosting combat aircraft from alliance countries are located nearby.

Ovchinsky rejected the argument that a strike on military facilities in Poland would automatically trigger a nuclear war between Russia and the West. He believes NATO countries would not risk escalating to a nuclear confrontation because the Russian leadership has previously warned about the consequences of such a scenario.

According to the retired major general, if a nuclear war were launched against Russia, ten minutes would be enough to destroy any NATO country, while Russia itself could not be destroyed. On this basis, Ovchinsky argued that facilities in Rzeszów, including warehouses containing armored vehicles and ammunition, should be doomed. He went further, predicting that such a strike could take place as early as this year and that the confrontation would end afterward.

To support his position, the expert referred to Russia’s existing doctrines, strategies and other regulatory documents. According to him, they provide for the possibility of taking preemptive measures, including the use of nuclear weapons, if an adversary plans to inflict significant damage on Russia and is already making concrete preparations for such strikes.

Ovchinsky also stressed that Russia’s arsenal is not limited to nuclear weapons. As an alternative, he again pointed to the Oreshnik system, claiming that its missiles cannot be intercepted by existing NATO or US defenses.

The retired major general further stated that the Oreshnik has already been tested and that Russia possesses these missiles in sufficient numbers. He therefore views a potential strike on NATO facilities in Poland as a possible scenario for the further development of the current confrontation.