NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says shouldn’t underestimate the threat posed by Russia, which remains “deeply dangerous” despite sustaining more than 1 million casualties since launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Moscow is conducting a covert campaign to undermine support for Kyiv even as it continues bombarding Ukraine with swarms of drones and missiles, Mr. Rutte said Monday during a meeting of NATO’s parliamentary assembly in Slovenia.
“Russia’s list of targets for sabotage is not limited to critical infrastructure, the defense industry and military facilities. It even includes public spaces,” Mr. Rutte said. “Fifteen people were charged last month after devices hidden in parcels were detonated across Europe last year. Russia also continues to carry out cyber and espionage operations against our countries.”
He also warned against overestimating the Kremlin’s capabilities, noting that Moscow is in the fourth year of a war that Russian officials were confident would be over within days.
“Russia’s military is stretched there and elsewhere. Its Mediterranean task force was once a mix of surface ships, submarines and support vessels. Now, in effect, there is hardly any Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean left,” he said.
He noted that a “lone and broken Russian submarine” — apparently the Novorossiysk — is limping home from its latest patrol. It reportedly was forced to surface off the coast of France after sustaining a fuel leak. The submarine is being monitored by NATO vessels.
“What a change from the 1984 Tom Clancy novel, ‘The Hunt for Red October.’ Today, it seems more like, ‘The Hunt for the Nearest Mechanic,’” Mr. Rutte said.
