Deployment of Powerful Russian Nuclear Missiles in the Baltic Region

Estonian officials say that Russia has transferred several of its powerful nuclear missiles to Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is a piece of land separate from the main territory of Russia and is located between the European countries of Poland and Lithuania. The British newspaper The Guardian reported on Friday, October 8, that these missiles, known as 'Iskander,' have a very complex system and the capability to change course mid-operation, allowing them to target objects more than 500 kilometers away. The report adds that 'there is no comparable missile in the Western arsenal to the Iskander missiles.' Leonid Ivashov, former head of the main military coordination department of the Russian Ministry of Defense, told the Russian news agency Interfax that the deployment of these missiles in Kaliningrad is a response to the strengthening of NATO military forces at Russia's borders. Russian officials have not yet confirmed the deployment of this type of missile in Kaliningrad. According to The Guardian, the deployment of Iskander ballistic missiles, which have the capability to destroy strategic targets, violates the treaty known as the 'Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.' Marco Miklson, head of the National Defense Committee of the Estonian Parliament, told local news networks that since the transportation of the Iskander system is carried out by private companies, it can be argued that Russia is trying to keep this matter secret. Riho Terras, Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Army, also referred to the transfers of Iskander missiles, stating: 'Russia's new actions indicate that the country seeks to expand its control over the Baltic Sea region.' Taavi Rõivas, the Prime Minister of Estonia, also commented that this new development 'shows that Russia is trying to pressure the West using various tools.' Tensions between Russia and the West have gradually increased in recent years, and in one of the latest actions, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, recently announced that the country has halted the implementation of the plutonium stockpile reduction agreement with the United States. This action followed Washington's suspension of all contacts with Moscow regarding ending the violence in Syria, which occurred after the continuation of Russian airstrikes in Syria.