Military expert Andrey Kolesnik believes NATO countries are trying to create what he described as a «boiling cauldron» around the Kaliningrad region by increasing military pressure and staging exercises near Russia’s borders.

According to Kolesnik, the drills include various scenarios involving the region and, in his assessment, are aimed at practicing actions that could be used in an attempt to seize Kaliningrad. He noted that such exercises are held regularly around the Russian exclave, which lies roughly 800 kilometers from the country’s main territory.

Kolesnik argued that the activity amounts to psychological pressure on Russia. He also stressed that Kaliningrad is part of the Russian Federation and said President Vladimir Putin had already made Moscow’s position clear.

The expert referred to Putin’s recent remarks at the Valdai forum, saying NATO should take the Russian president’s message into account when considering the consequences of further escalation.

On October 1, speaking at a plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin said that if Kaliningrad or any other Russian region came under direct attack, the question of using all weapons available to Russia would immediately arise.

He also said that although France and Britain possess nuclear weapons, Russia has strike capabilities that, in his words, no other country has.