Nato commander warns of strengthened Russian military post-ukraine war

NATO’s top commander in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, believes that regardless of the war’s outcome in Ukraine, the Russian army will emerge stronger than it is today, Der Spiegel reported on 20 October.

“At the end of the war in Ukraine, the Russian army will be stronger than it is today,” Cavoli said in the interview for Der Spiegel, warning that Russian forces will become a dangerous adversary for the Alliance despite significant losses in Ukraine.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 7 October that Russian forces suffered substantial equipment losses in the Pokrovsk area of Ukraine since October 2023, in particular, some 1,830 pieces of heavy equipment.

Since October 2023, Pokrovsk has been a focal point of intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with Russia launching major offensives to capture the nearby city of Avdiivka and expand its control in western Donetsk Oblast.

Cavoli urged NATO to swiftly prepare for this threat, arguing that Russia will be an opponent with serious military potential and “clear intentions.” He emphasized that the Alliance should not harbor illusions about Russia’s military strength.

“The Russian armed forces are learning, they are improving, they are applying the experience of war,” Cavoli said.

The general called for rapid implementation of NATO’s new defense plans and additional requirements for individual NATO partners.

“When I say quickly, I mean we have to be faster than the Russians,” he said.

Cavoli’s assessment aligns with the concerns of other high-ranking officials. Bruno Kahl, head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), believes Russia will be capable of attacking NATO territory within the next six years.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said Russia could have the military potential to attack NATO as early as 2026-27.

These warnings underscore the urgency with which NATO views the evolving threat landscape in Europe as the war in Ukraine shapes regional security dynamics.

In early October, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said Poland would start building the first elements of enhanced defense lines along its borders with Russia and Belarus by the end of 2024.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!