The Kremlin is getting closer to opening its 'new eye' on Europe.
asserted
Kremlin → get → Europe
Construction of a towering radar complex is almost complete in Russia's highly militarized exclave of Kaliningrad, according to reports.
uncertain
Construction → tower → reports
From above, the three radiating arms of the sprawling facility – each more than 500 meters long – look like some sort of alien lifeform has left its mark on an otherwise undisturbed stretch of forested nature reserve.
asserted
sort → radiate → reserve
You could actually compare it to a landing platform or launch pad for Moscow's massive intelligence-gathering network.
uncertain
You → compare → network
While Russia has not confirmed it is building the structure, security expert Vaidotas Malinionis said the radar will be so big, it will be able to see beyond the earth's curvature.
asserted
it → confirm → curvature
The retired commander from Lithuania told DW the over-the-horizon (OTH) radar network near Gvardeysk will have a surveillance range of about 3,000 kilometers, allowing Moscow to peer into almost every corner of Europe, as well as right across Ukraine.
asserted
Moscow → tell → Ukraine
The system would reportedly allow Russia to intercept satellite communications and detect aircraft movements and ballistic missiles.
uncertain
Russia → allow → movements
We still don't know if it is operationally capable of doing that, but it is definitely being constructed right now," he added.
asserted
he → know → that
The British newspaper The Times reports that the systems are primarily intended for the detection and jamming of electronic signals – citing the Finnish-Polish space and defense technology company ICEYE.
asserted
systems → report → company
"They would be able to use it in offensive operations, to get more information about specific targets," explained Malinionis.
asserted
Malinionis → use → targets
"And if they were able to get an early warning about the movement of NATO troops, in the case of an invasion on NATO's eastern frontier, then they would gain more time for decision-making."
Speaking to DW from the shores of the Baltic Sea, Latvian geopolitical analyst Evija Djatkovica warned there is a significant downside for NATO to this old Soviet technology being revived when it comes to the increased use of new tech in the warfare of today.
asserted
it → get → today
"It will help Russia close existing loopholes in detecting low-flying objects, making the rapidly developing integration of drones into regional defense doctrines less effective," she claimed.
asserted
she → help → doctrines
The Times report goes on to say that ICEYE sees Russia's expansion of its OTH radar system as proof that Kaliningrad is being developed into a hub for advanced military sensors and electronic warfare systems.
asserted
Kaliningrad → go → sensors
"The new radar signals an intensifying contest between Russia and NATO for military supremacy and control of the Kaliningrad region," Djatkovica underlined.
asserted
Djatkovica → signal → region
"This is a potentially dangerous situation, since further militarization on both sides could be expected and, at some point, a preemptive strike becomes an option to deny the other side an unacceptable advantage over the region,” she warned.
uncertain
she → expect → region
Russia has already alerted NATO it would be ready to resort to nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to blockade Kaliningrad.
asserted
alliance → alert → Kaliningrad
The potential flashpoint and Russian outpost is situated on the Baltic Sea, wedged between NATO member states Poland and Lithuania– on the very doorstep of the alliance's eastern flank.
asserted
flashpoint → situate → flank
However, from what Malinionis asserted, Russia's smallest federal region or oblast packs a punch.
asserted
region → assert → punch
"According to some sources, they have the capability to deploy up to 100 nuclear warheads in Kaliningrad.
uncertain
they → accord → Kaliningrad
And some sources say they have already started deploying some there – although that is yet to be confirmed," the former commander pointed out.
asserted
commander → say → some
ICEYE claims to have discovered another large circular antenna complex some 50 kilometers west of Gvardeysk, near the city of Chernyakhovsk, according to the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
uncertain
ICEYE → claim → daily
More than 20 signal and electronic warfare facilities are reportedly peppered throughout the Kaliningrad region.
uncertain
facilities → pepper → region
Satellite images also reveal new shelters for fighter jets at the Kaliningrad-Chkalovsk military airfield, according to the FAZ report.
uncertain
images → reveal → report
Other images show launch pads at the mobile S-400 surface-to-air missile site in Baltiysk, meaning the systems could well be operational.
uncertain
systems → show → Baltiysk
"These factors clearly depict the strategic importance of territories around Kaliningrad for both Russia and NATO," said Djatkovica.
asserted
Djatkovica → depict → Russia
"For Russia, among other things, Kaliningrad's geographic position and nuclear arsenal stationed there allow it to project threats against most European capitals.
asserted
it → station → capitals
This is where the gargantuan radar comes into play, according to her.
uncertain
radar → come → her
"Because of the radar's long reach, other European regions from North to West will also become more exposed to Russia's surveillance and military actions.
asserted
regions → become → surveillance
Motivation for the West
She sighed, saying the good news is that every escalatory step that Russia takes, with repercussions for European countries even further away from its borders, the more the whole continent takes Moscow seriously as a direct threat.
"
asserted
continent → sigh → threat
Russia's malign signals should motivate the West to keep up with rearmament, which, in turn, will make NATO and Europe's collective deterrence more credible."
asserted
NATO → motivate → turn
Djatkovica used the example of Poland, which has been transforming its offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea into NATO surveillance infrastructure.
asserted
which → use → infrastructure
In another step towards integrating newer technologies, German arms producer Rheinmetall is building Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites in conjunction with the firm ICEYE.
asserted
Rheinmetall → integrate → ICEYE
They beam down precise pictures of troop movements and enemy positions, even at night or in bad weather.
asserted
They → beam → weather
The images will be used on NATO's eastern flank and by the Bundeswehr brigade stationed in Lithuania.
asserted
images → use → Lithuania
The first SAR satellites are set to be launched into orbit on a SpaceX rocket in early 2027.
asserted
satellites → set → 2027
Malinionis agreed that adaptation is the most important lesson to be learnt for European leaders in times of Russian aggression.
asserted
adaptation → agree → aggression
But he had another point to make.
asserted
he → have → point
The Aporia
