Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called stupid a statement by the commander of the US Air Force in Europe and Africa, General Jeffrey Lee Harrigyan, about a plan to break through air defense in the Kaliningrad region. The head of the cabinet noted that the American side should deal with real problems, and not try to formulate “stupid ideas” that have no chance of implementation.

“On the one hand, not all the stupid statements of American generals need to be commented. But when this happens, I would like to tell our colleagues: they would be better engaged in their main business and better look at what is happening, for example, with their missile defense and the missile defense systems that are created by the United States, ”Medvedev quotes Interfax.

Earlier, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the statement of the American general, stated that Russia maintains a high level of security throughout the country.

“It's not my business to comment on the statements of the military. But I know that we can say that, of course, security in all its various aspects of all regions of Russia, including Kaliningrad, is ensured at the proper level, ”said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian President.

Recall that Harrigyan at a conference said that the United States has an action plan that, if necessary, will overcome the unified air defense system in the Kaliningrad region. The general did not disclose any details, however, according to him, Washington is fulfilling such tasks during the exercises.

“Do not hesitate, we have a plan for this case. We work it out , ” Breaking Defense quotes him. “We carefully think through these plans all the time.” And if such an opportunity presents itself, we will be ready to implement them. ”

Harrigyan noted that it is a "multilateral, very timely and effective means that will provide access to this space" in the event of "aggression" from the Kaliningrad region.

These statements of the general were not disregarded in the Ministry of Defense. They emphasized that the group of forces deployed in the Kaliningrad region was ready to withstand US plans to attack the region.

“The Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation is reliably protected from any aggressive“ plans ”being developed in Europe by vagrant American generals,” the defense department noted.

They stated that the pilots of the NATO air forces are well acquainted with the capabilities of the air defense system in the Kaliningrad region. The Ministry of Defense emphasized that this also applies to aircraft with low radar visibility, which are “invisible only to American taxpayers and foreign buyers,” including fifth-generation F-35 fighters.

“The thrill and excitement of the Pentagon over the probable desacralization of F-35 fighters by Turkish S-400 air defense missile calculations is not unfounded,” the department said.

“Thus, the frivolity of the commander of the US Air Force in Europe, General Jeffrey Lee Harrigian and his naive belief in the superiority of some kind of“ plans ”for the conquest of Kaliningrad should concern first of all his immediate subordinates. Which, it seems, know one of the main commandments of the military leaders much better: every plan is good only before the battle, ”the Defense Ministry added.

Such attention of the United States to the Kaliningrad region is due to the fact that, in the opinion of the American military, this exclave is the most vulnerable, believes Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Research.

“Washington believes that air defense in Kaliningrad is the most vulnerable spot, from which Russia, nevertheless, much faster than from any other, can create a system or military group that will effectively confront the West. So many scenarios are being prepared with an eye to Kaliningrad, ”he told RT.

  • Complex "Iskander-M"
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“Qualifying as a threat”

In turn, commenting on Harrigyan’s statements, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow refers to such irresponsible rhetoric as threats against itself.

“First, we qualify this as a threat. Secondly, we qualify these statements as completely irresponsible. Thirdly, we see how easy it is for the political elite, in particular in the United States, to deal with such serious and very complex issues as world security and stability. Once again, it does it irresponsibly, based on the political and market considerations of its own process, including, as we understand it, the electoral process, ”she said.

Such statements, according to Zakharova, are an indicator of not only irresponsibility, but also stupidity.

“Smart, far-sighted people who truly express the interests of people who either appoint them to their respective posts or elect them, will never make such statements, realizing that they are damaging the country that these people represent,” she emphasized .

The head of the Kaliningrad region Anton Alikhanov commented on the statement of Harrigyan. According to him, American generals should study history before making such attacks in the direction of Russia.

“Many people who did not teach history well had plans for our country. But life has shown that in addition to engaging in maps and developing plans, one should also read books about how these plans ended for planners, ”RBC quotes him.

In an interview with TASS, Alikhanov stressed that both the morale and the technical condition of the Russian troops in Kaliningrad are at such a level that no one should risk and get involved in a conflict with these formations.

The State Duma also condemned the statement of the American general. According to the first deputy chairman of the committee on defense of the lower house of parliament, Alexander Sherin, statements of this kind are more likely for bloggers than for military men.

“Today is the era when any general can turn into a blogger. The Americans talk too much, while the military needs less comment, and more to do. Unfortunately, the US and the NATO bloc are engaged only in chatter. In fact, no one can oppose anything against Russia, ”he told RT.

In turn, a military political scientist, head of the department of political science and sociology Plekhanova Andrei Koshkin expressed the view that such statements Washington seeks to support the idea of ​​confrontation in Moscow in the media space.

“All this is aimed at supporting in the information space a certain desire to accuse Russia of aggression and confirm the statements of such“ professionals ”as Pentagon employees,” the source said.

According to Koshkin, Harrigyan’s statement only exacerbates the situation in the region and should trigger a corresponding reaction of European states.

“Such a statement will seriously destabilize the socio-political atmosphere in the region. In general, European states are outraged by the US attitude towards the fulfillment of its duties to ensure the security of the European continent, ”the expert concluded.