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Amid growing tensions with Russia, NATO is planning for the possible evacuation of large numbers of wounded troops in the event of war. Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, a senior NATO commander, says the alliance is considering using hospital trains and buses to transport injured personnel due to potential challenges with air evacuations posed by Russian air defenses.
Sollfrank emphasizes the need for swift, high-quality medical care for a potentially large number of wounded troops and suggests the creation of a "military medical Schengen" zone to streamline medical regulations across member nations.
The plans come as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has issued warnings to the West over the possibility of Ukraine launching long-range strikes into Russia using Western-supplied weapons. Moscow has indicated its willingness to respond with "more powerful weapons" in such a scenario.
Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, has estimated that Russia could potentially attack NATO within the next decade, highlighting the urgency of the alliance’s preparations for a possible conflict.