NATO units practice defence of land corridor near Russia

Troops from a number of NATO countries have started joint exercises in northeastern Poland to practice ways of defending a strategic land corridor near Russia’s westernmost region of Kaliningrad.

Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak briefs reporters during the Bull Run 12 multinational rapid response exercise on Monday.

Photo: Polish Ministry of Defence

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak on Monday watched as soldiers trained together to respond to potential adversaries along the narrow, 100-kilometre-long corridor, known as the Suwałki Gap.

Today @mblaszczak🇵🇱 @Poland_MOD will observe #BullRun12 mil ex. The combined operations of #15GBZ @ZAWISZACY and @BG_Poland_eFP @2dCavalryRegt are the basis of the BULL RUN 12 🇵🇱🇺🇸🇬🇧🇭🇷🇹🇩 @ZAWISZACY @16Dywizja @DGeneralneRSZ @Poland_MOD @2dCavalryRegt https://t.co/c2YopQ8YLY

— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) June 22, 2020

The Bull Run 12 multinational rapid response exercise near the northeastern Polish towns of Olecko and Augustów by soldiers from NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland aims to test interoperability and an ability to efficiently move troops and military hardware.

The Suwałki Gap is nestled between northeastern Poland and southern Lithuania. It is flanked on either side by Belarus and Russia's Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.

Poland and Lithuania, both members of NATO, last year agreed to assign a brigade of troops to reinforce the Suwałki Gap amid reports of growing Russian military build-up in the Kaliningrad region.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR, gov.pl