“We are already conflicting with Russia.” German general: We are threatened with a war in the classical sense of the word
“Die Welt”: military historian Sonke Neitzel said it could be the last year of peace. Hysteria or realism?
General Lieutenant Aleksander Sollfrank: These warnings are to be an alarm signal. We are not yet at war, as Professor Neitzel defines it, and yet we are already conflicting with Russia. We observe various forms of hybrid attacks, espionage, sabotage or influence surgery through disinformation. The Russians call these forms of hybrid war with a non -linear war.
Is it about the famous doctrine [szefa rosyjskiego sztabu generalnego Walerija] Gierasimowa?
Yes. This concept is about achieving goals by using funds throughout the spectrum of force projection. This is associated with the use of hybrid war methods. In this concept, subsequent stages of escalation from local war to regional and on a large scale are considered and planned.
In any case, together with our allies, we closely observe Russia's actions and evaluate each step. By doing so, we strictly stick to the facts in our assessments.
What facts?
Everyone who wants to wage a war against NATO must be militarily capable of it. This requires armed forces with staff, equipment and similar abilities that can face NATO troops in armed conflict.
The war does not begin, simply shelling the NATO territory. War has its purpose, such as the occupation of territory. Before you make the first shot, you must realize whether you will achieve the set war goal. That is why we are closely observing what potential the Russian Federation has.
“It's about changing the Euro -Atlantic order”
What do the facts say about Russia's goals?
First of all, you have to ask yourself, why does Russia need such large armed forces? In a short time, the Russian Federation has condemned its arsenal to the level before the invasion of Ukraine – despite the huge losses suffered in the war with Kiev.
Secondly, what did Russia do with its military potential in the past? It attacked its neighbors Georgia and Ukraine over the past 17 years and used great strength and brutality to achieve its own goals.
Thirdly, you need to listen to what political leaders in Russia write and say. It can be concluded that the Russians want to turn back time to the situation from the uprising of free countries on the periphery or debris of the Soviet Union, which then became members of the EU or NATO.
So the Russians want to return to Europe before 1990?
It is about changing the Euro -Atlantic order in its current form for one that would be accepted by Russia. Putin demands that countries that are currently members of NATO or no longer be members of the North Atlantic Alliance, or that they would not be stationed on their territory of foreign troops and that the US is no longer the main guarantee of security in Europe.
By the way, it was the core of the so -called security guarantees, which Russia demanded from the west in 2021.
Are the Russians getting better in conducting hybrid activities, such as sabotage and espionage?
Yes, they are. What we see differs not only in terms of quantity compared to the situation from a few years ago, but also in terms of quality. However, it is not always possible to prove that the Russians are behind these activities.
The problem of assigning the authorship of unfriendly actions is also the heart of hybrid activities. In addition to causing direct damage, their purpose is to disturb the population and delegitimize state institutions.
Is this the goal in itself? Or maybe it's about what the military call “shaping the battlefield”? In other words, are Russians about preparing for a classic war?
They can be one and the other. They may want to achieve specific goals by conducting hybrid activities, as well as “shape the battlefield” by testing, spying and causing anxiety.
By testing our alarm systems and procedures, recognizing the patterns of our reactions, Russian intelligence services collect experience.
However, it should be remembered that the heart of hybrid activities is to achieve war goals without the need for military escalation.
“We are dealing with strange incidents”
How dangerous are the actions of the Russians?
We observe an increase in the number of hybrid attacks, which are also aimed at the Bundeswehra. We were dealing with incidents indicating sabotage, for example in relation to the Navy facilities. Metal chips in the drive system or used oil in the drinking water tank are just two striking examples of sabotage against two sea frigates. We also notice the growing activity of drones.
We are dealing with strange incidents in the cybernetic sphere and even attempts to infiltrate military facilities. Some of them could be prevented, others could not. We take additional funds to protect ourselves better. I can say that consciousness has increased. For example, drones are detected faster than three years ago.
Why does the army just not shoot down the drones?
We effectively fight drones where we are authorized to do so and where it is adequate to the situation. A clear example is the “Ludwigshafen am Rhein” corvette, which shot down the drone from the sea off the coast of Lebanon in October last year.
German corvette “Ludwigshafen am Rhein” (illustrative photos)
If it failed, the drone would hit the ship and cause serious damage. We also shot down one or two drones at military training grounds.
Really?
Yes, but we are not yet effective enough to defend against drones. There are two reasons for this. First of all, the technology of unmanned aerial vehicles is developing very dynamically. As a Bundeswehr, we must keep pace with this technological development through our means of defense.
Secondly, a soldier who discovers a drone may decide that they have not shot him down because he must take into account the possible effects of this action. Everything we shoot into the air also returns to earth …
And can it fall to the village, for example?
Yes it's true. In addition to shooting down, the defense against drones also involves the interruption of the connection between the drone pilot on the ground and the drone. Unmanned aerial vehicles can be shot down or broken down in a targeted manner. This is what we understand by jamming. However, there are also wired drones for which jamming does not work. In the Bundeswehr operational command we have a center that deals with these issues.
This center was created at a time when we were attacked with improvised explosives during foreign missions. These experts fully devote themselves to defense against drones and related tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as technological issues, such as remote control of unmanned aircraft.
Changes in the Bundeswehra
Does the newly created operational command of the Bundeswehr mean that the era of foreign missions has come to an end, and the main priority of the army has again become the defense of the country and alliances?
Correct. We had two commands, an operational command for foreign missions and territorial command for Germany. But now it is mainly about deterrent and defensive readiness.
That is why we combine everything in one command in the operational command and focus the actions of the armed forces on the main task, which is protection against hybrid threat and preparation of national and allied defense.
How close is cooperation with the USA?
Military terms close and reliable, unchanged. Of course, I am aware of the political debates and announcements from the US, but I am currently not seeing any consequences of these activities in the military sphere. NATO works – united, coordinated, determined.
