Andrey Kelin warns of response to Kaliningrad provocations

Former Russian ambassador to Britain Andrey Kelin said Russia's response to possible military provocations against Kaliningrad Region would be devastating. RIA Novosti reported his Vesti interview on October 9.

Kelin linked his concerns to frequent exercises in the Baltic Sea and the stopping and searching of Russian ships. He described these actions as dangerous and said scenarios existed for the region's military and political isolation.

He cited Russia's high-technology capabilities. His remarks concerned a possible response to provocations, rather than announcing a specific operation or an attack that had already occurred.

Vladimir Putin had earlier told the Valdai discussion club that a direct attack on Kaliningrad or other Russian territory would raise the question of using all available weapons. That was also a conditional warning. Kelin's quoted remarks did not specify response capabilities or a timetable.