Politico: NATO's Eastern Flank Moves Operations Underground

• 16.06.2025, 22:03

Poland and the Baltic states are preparing hospitals for a possible Russian invasion.

All countries of NATO's eastern flank are revising crisis response protocols for medical facilities and preparing their hospitals for war with Russian Federation. This was reported on June 16 by Politico.

According to Ragnar Vaiknemets, deputy director general of Estonia's health department, the question is "not if Russia will attack, but when."

Poland and the Baltic states are buying helmets and body armor and lowering operating rooms underground. In addition, medical facilities want to provide generators and mobile medical stations - temporary treatment facilities to be deployed in emergencies.

After assessing Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian and energy facilities, Estonia plans to distribute satellite phones and set up an independent internet network.

Estonia has earmarked €25 million to supply medical supplies in case of mass casualties.

Latvia has required hospitals to maintain a three-month supply of medicines since the COVID-19 outbreak. The country is also working on a national stockpile.

At the same time, workforce may be a problem. A Lithuanian survey found that more than a quarter of health care workers are likely to leave the country during the war, while less than 40 percent will stay and a third are undecided.

Germany earlier said there was a shortage of shelters in case Russia attacks NATO, so the country is working on a plan to quickly set up new ones.