Russia moving nuclear-capable missiles into Kaliningrad

The launch of a missile from an Iskander M tactical missile system at Kapustin Yar during a military exercise by the Russian Armed Forces | TASS via Getty Images

Russia is moving nuclear-capable missiles into the tiny Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, situated between Poland and Lithuania, according to a Reuters report.

Friday’s report quoted a U.S. intelligence official, confirming earlier reports in Estonian media on the development.

The reason for moving the Iskander-M missiles, which have a range of 500 kilometers, or far enough to reach deep inside of Poland, could be an attempt to show strength to NATO, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“They moved a similar missile system into Kalinigrad in 2014 for a military exercise. It could also be a political gesture — a show of strength — to express displeasure with NATO,” Reuters cited the official as saying.

Referring to reports about the missile system, Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas called the move to Kalinigrad “alarming” and an attempt to “pressure the West by using different tools.”

“Russia’s continuous aggressive action only reaffirm the necessity for NATO’s increased military presence in the Baltic states and Poland,” he said. “I can assure you that Estonia is closely following the developments in the Baltic Sea region.”

The move ratchets up tension a notch further between Western governments and the Kremlin, days after Moscow unilaterally suspended a Russia-U.S. agreement signed in 2000 that committed both sides to dispose of surplus plutonium intended for use in nuclear weapons.

Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the national defense committee in Estonia’s parliament, told local media Friday that Russia was likely trying to move the missile system in secret because it was being transported with the help of a civilian vessel.

“In any case, what is called for now is to remain calm and to treat these incidents as attempted blackmail,” Mihkelson told the ERR news agency. “Russia is simply showing its desire to reinforce its position at the entrance to the Baltic Sea.

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