'Nothing but hoax': Kremlin rubbishes report claiming Russia preparing attack on NATO

Dismissing a report suggesting Russia’s preparations for an “open attack” on NATO, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov on Monday labeled the document as a mere “hoax.” German newspaper BILD in an article on Sunday said that it had reviewed a secret German Defence Ministry document which provided a month-by-month outline of a possible _"_path to conflict" between Russia and the West. The German newspaper said that the documents indicate that Germany’s military is gearing up for a potential “hybrid” Russian assault in Eastern Europe. The leaked document depicts a series of concerning scenarios, notably the “Alliance Defense 2025,” which may commence as soon as February, involving Russia deploying an extra 200,000 troops. This deployment could be triggered by a reduction in Western financial aid to Ukraine, paving the way for a significant Russian offensive in the upcoming spring, the outlet added. It also claimed that the documents also discuss the possibility of Russia instigating conflict in the Baltic states around July. This could involve severe cyberattacks and taking advantage of the dissatisfaction among Russian nationals in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. By September, Russia might engage in a significant military exercise called “Zapad 2024,” involving approximately 50,000 troops in western Russia and Belarus, it added. A crucial element of this strategy may include the movement of troops and mid-range missiles to Kaliningrad, a small Russian territory situated between Lithuania and Poland, both of which are NATO members. The plan might encompass a propaganda campaign aimed at creating the perception of an impending NATO attack, with the goal of seizing the Suwalki Gap, a strategic corridor between Belarus and Kaliningrad, said the report, citing the documents. Towards the end of the year, Russia could take advantage of the US presidential transition period to incite unrest in the Suwalki Gap area. Propaganda may be used to fabricate border conflicts or riots. In response, the scenario suggests the deployment of 30,000 German troops to defend against an estimated 70,000 Russian forces in Belarus. By May 2025, NATO may intervene to deter further Russian advances, potentially leading to direct combat between Western and Russian forces, it added. Responding to the queries of journalist on the report on Monday, Peskov said, “I wouldn’t even comment on this report by Bild”. _"_Recently, this outlet also doesn’t shy away from publishing various hoaxes," Russia Today quoted him as saying.  According to the report, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, earlier in the day, labeled the report “last year’s powerful zodiac forecast.” She suggested it was the German Foreign Ministry, headed by Annalena Baerbock, that had actually helped the Bundeswehr come up with such a scenario, the report added. In the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that began in February 2022, there have been significant casualties, with an estimated half a million Ukrainian and Russian troops killed or injured. Recently, Sweden’s Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin and the country’s military Commander-in-Chief Micael Bydén have expressed concerns about the possibility of war in Sweden, emphasising the need for comprehensive preparedness. While not commenting on specific scenarios, the German Defence Ministry acknowledged to BILD that considering various potential situations, even unlikely ones, is a routine part of military operations and training. With inputs from agencies