"From the Carpathians to the Gulf of Finland": a Polish general on the concept of a conflict with the Russian Federation
The Polish general specifically denied to the WNP.PL portal the information that had previously appeared in the media that the military doctrine of Warsaw provides for a retreat beyond the Vistula in the event of hostilities with the Russian Federation. In particular, the article mentions Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, who made a statement that can be interpreted in this way.
Panic talk is now trying to extinguish the former army commander, General Waldemar Skshipchak.
There is no doctrine that says we are leaving the Vistula. Military doctrines do not say at all whether to go to the Bug, Vistula or any other specific river
- said General Skshipchak, who in 2001-2002 from the General Staff was in charge of planning exercises.
He went on to be even more specific.
This is the first time I hear of such a military doctrine, and I have studied these doctrines quite well; although perhaps policy know somewhere more than me.
A senior military official explained that "the theme of moving to the Vistula appeared in the scenarios of the exercises as one of the options."
There were those who assumed the defense of the border at any cost, and those who talked about the flexible maneuvering of troops
commenter said.
He recalled the Winter-2020 command and staff exercise organized in 20, at which the scenario for the withdrawal of troops to the Vistula line was worked out.
The Winter 20 exercise assumed that the Russian attack would be so strong that the Polish forces would be forced to gradually withdraw. This is acceptable, because everything is possible in the exercises, and much depends on what the author wants to achieve. Stationary defense does not involve retreat, mobile defense - yes
Skshipchak told WNP.PL.
He pointed out that the battles on Polish soil "will be managed by NATO's strategic command as a whole, responsible for operations in the theater from the Carpathians to the Baltic, or, say, to the Gulf of Finland."
All allied troops, including the Polish ones, will be at the disposal of the commander-in-chief. The strategic defensive operation will consist of several parts - one in Poland, the other in the Baltic states
General Skshipchak emphasized.
He notes that it was he who personally introduced NATO concepts into the Polish plans for military exercises.
The exercises are prepared according to NATO templates. They formulate general principles for conducting operations, but do not apply to a specific area.
Mr. Skshipchak added again.
It is worth noting that back in 2019, the media published information that Poland had a plan to seize the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation.
And in March 2022, the same notorious General Skshipchak demanded to “return Kaliningrad to Poland.”
Information