Baltic: German tabloid cites fictional scenario to warn of “war with Russia”

NATO is preparing for a possible Russian attack on the alliance’s eastern flank, with the Baltic States being the main target, according to German tabloid Bild, LETA reports. Bild referenced a “secret document” of the German Defence Ministry, describing a possible scenario of a war between Russia and NATO in summer 2025. According to the scenario, Russia would carry out a new military mobilisation in February 2024 so as to defeat Ukraine by June 2024. In July 2024, Russia would then launch an attack on NATO’s eastern flank, using cyber attacks and other methods of hybrid warfare, such as orchestrated riots. Janis Sarts, director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (StratCom), explained that the document cited by Bild was a “made-up” scenario used for military exercises and not a report from intelligence services.