Russia warns NATO of possible nuclear response if Kaliningrad is cut off

Moscow claims that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade in the Baltic Sea.

Spanish Air Force F-18 fighter jets fly over Lithuania during a NATO media tour in Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, September 30, 2026 [Ints Kalnins/Reuters]

Russia has warned NATO it is prepared to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if the Western alliance attempts to cut off the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad , according to a diplomatic document sent to member states.

The diplomatic memo sent on Wednesday claimed Moscow has “information that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad”.

NATO’s response came through its Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who said that NATO is a defensive alliance and that Russia should “stop the nuclear threats”, calling the document unhelpful.

Rutte also downplayed the seriousness of the threat, saying that “Putin knows that he can never win” in a direct escalation with NATO.

Bordered by Poland and Lithuania, both NATO members, the Russian territory of Kaliningrad sits on the Baltic Sea . The region serves as a major military outpost, housing Russia’s Baltic fleet and nuclear-ready Iskander missile systems.

The exchange comes more than four and a half years into Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, as tensions increasingly spill into neighbouring states.

Poland has heightened its air defence posture following alleged incursions into its airspace in recent weeks, while Danish authorities said a Russian warship fired two flares near a Danish military helicopter over the Baltic Sea two weeks ago.

莫斯科声称北约正准备在波罗的海实施空中和海上封锁。

2026年9月30日，西班牙空军F-18战斗机在立陶宛希奥利艾空军基地参加北约媒体参观活动期间飞越立陶宛上空。[Ints Kalnins/路透社]

据发给成员国的一份外交文件显示，俄罗斯警告北约，如果这个西方联盟试图切断波罗的海飞地加里宁格勒与外界的联系，俄罗斯准备动用包括核武器在内的全部武库。

周三发出的外交备忘录声称，莫斯科掌握“北约正在准备对加里宁格勒进行空中和海上封锁”的信息。

北约秘书长马克·吕特对此作出回应，称北约是一个防御性联盟，俄罗斯应该“停止核威胁”，并称该文件无益。

吕特还淡化了这一威胁的严重性，称“普京知道，在与北约的直接冲突升级中，他永远不可能获胜”。

俄罗斯的加里宁格勒位于波罗的海沿岸，与北约成员国波兰和立陶宛接壤。该地区是重要的军事前哨，驻扎着俄罗斯的波罗的海舰队和可携带核弹头的“伊斯坎德尔”导弹系统。

此次交流发生在俄罗斯对乌克兰发动全面战争四年半之后，紧张局势日益蔓延至邻国。

波兰在最近几周遭遇疑似入侵领空事件后，加强了防空态势。与此同时，丹麦当局表示，两周前一艘俄罗斯军舰在波罗的海上空向一架丹麦军用直升机发射了两枚照明弹。