NATO prepares for large-scale transportation of wounded soldiers in potential conflict with Russia

Head of NATO's logistics command, Lieutenant-General Alexander Sollfrank has said that NATO is preparing to coordinate the transport of a significant number of wounded soldiers from the front lines in the event of a war with Russia, potentially using hospital trains, as air evacuations may not be feasible.

Sollfrank noted that future medical evacuation scenarios will differ from past experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, as a conflict with Russia would involve a much larger battlefield, a higher casualty rate, and at least a temporary loss of air superiority near the front lines, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"The challenge will be to quickly provide high-quality care for potentially large numbers of injured," he stated, without specifying expected casualty figures. This planning for medical evacuations is part of a broader initiative by NATO, spurred by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, aimed at enhancing its deterrent and defence capabilities.

The German military anticipates that Russia could launch an attack on a NATO member as soon as 2029, while President Vladimir Putin characterizes the West as the aggressor for supplying arms to Ukraine. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to heightened tensions between Russia and the West, reminiscent of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. 

Sollfrank oversees NATO's Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC), which coordinates the rapid movement of troops and equipment across Europe and manages logistical preparations, including munitions storage along NATO's eastern flank. Recently, JSEC conducted an exercise focused on managing patient flows. 

He emphasised that in case of conflict with Russia, transporting the wounded would involve greater distances compared to recent wars. He warned that Russian air defences would pose a threat to medical evacuation flights, unlike insurgents in Afghanistan or Iraq, which may necessitate the use of hospital trains capable of transporting more casualties than aircraft. "Air superiority must be established first. Achieving success across the entire front line will take time," Sollfrank said. 

He also highlighted the need to consider all transport options for large numbers of casualties, including trains and potentially buses. Additionally, differing medical regulations among NATO countries present another challenge.

Sollfrank proposed a "military medical Schengen" arrangement, similar to the political Schengen zone, to facilitate the movement of sensitive medications, such as narcotics and strong painkillers, which are essential for treating wounded soldiers but are subject to strict cross-border regulations.

By Naila Huseynova