NATO exercise simulates Russian invasion across frontline member states

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NATO exercise simulates Russian invasion across frontline member states  As Ukrainian forces deal a shock blow to Russia with a widespread drone attack on several Russian airbases, NATO allies are testing the alliance's strength and readiness for war.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/06/02/nato-conducts-major-readiness-exercise-across-frontline-european-states  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels this week, where the alliance's capability targets,

00:07essentially NATO's overall strength and readiness for war, is high on the agenda.

00:12Meanwhile, closer to the Ukrainian battlefield, a NATO exercise involving 26,000 multinational troops

00:19using all NATO forces' structures in a three-week scenario, simulating a full response from NATO

00:25to a potential invasion by Russia.

00:28Baltic soldiers recalled their recent history under Soviet occupation

00:32and what they say is the importance now of being part of NATO.

00:36We definitely were not ready to defend ourselves when the Soviet Union collapsed.

00:41We had the people, we had the willingness, but we didn't have training and we didn't have the equipment,

00:48and all that has completely changed now.

00:51Do you remember what it was like to live under Soviet occupation?

00:54Luckily we do, and that's why we want to make sure that nothing like that returns.

00:58Overall, the training includes a wide gamut of military capabilities, including tanks, howitzers,

01:04attack helicopters, drones, live fire drills and fully functional field hospitals.

01:10Trench warfare is a key characteristic of the war in Ukraine, and these trenches were built by hand,

01:14taken around two to three hours. The idea here is of course replicating what it might be like in the event of war,

01:20where NATO soldiers were required to defend Estonia.

01:24So we're in an MDA at the moment, which stands for Main Defensive Area,

01:28so basically we're tasked with defending the ground you can see behind us,

01:32basically stopping any movement north of that ground and repelling any attacks.

01:36We've got a few trenches out at the front as well, which is where we'll live and fight out of,

01:40so if enemy attacks come towards us then that's where our main defensive area will be.

01:44But this is an exercise with Lithuanian and German soldiers using German tanks, both the Leopard and the Puma.

01:54We know that Germany sent the Leopard tanks to support Ukraine.

01:58It's also got Lithuanian infantry fighting vehicles.

02:01Is the readiness there in the event of an armed conflict or an invasion on NATO territory in the next year or so?

02:08The capability to rapidly move into these locations are always here.

02:13The 173rd is postured in Italy and ready to go at a moment's notice.

02:17The 82nd in the rear is also always on guard and on watch,

02:21prepared to deploy, engage and destroy in less than 24 hours.

02:26While the evolution of drone technology dominates in the war in Ukraine,

02:30traditional battlefield techniques are still regarded as relevant,

02:33whether tanks or paratroopers replicating the wars of the last century.

02:38150 paratroopers from five NATO countries, Germany, the United States, France, Italy and the Netherlands will come here

02:46and in theory be here to reinforce Lithuanian soldiers in the event of an invasion.

02:52With ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine and growing concerns about hybrid threats,

02:57ranging from cyber attacks to disinformation campaigns,

03:00NATO says it's always recalibrating its strategy to respond rapidly to all emerging crises.

03:07Shona Murray, Kaunas, Lithuania.

03:12Shona Murray, Kaunas

03:13Shona Murray, Insights, fürs

03:32Nationalube

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