Why Russia Will Go to War Over This Next

Kaliningrad's strategic importance to Russia is unparalleled, acting as a pivotal outpost on the Baltic Sea despite being isolated from the mainland. Learn how its historical roots, geopolitical significance, and current tensions shape its fate amidst EU and NATO pressures.

The videos are made by the same team that brings you The Infographics Show.

All videos are based on publicly available information unless otherwise noted.

[Idontknkwanymore]

Russia would threaten nukes if it lost game of rock paper scissors.

[eksiarvamus]

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are not "former Soviet countries" - they are countries that were formerly illegally occupied by the USSR, but never legally a part of it.

[vortexgen]

I see in the future a 4th Baltic country, when that happens, I can only guess.The tighter the grip, the more sand slips through the fingers.

[seankane]

With Sweden and Finland now in Nato reinforcing the Baltic members just became easier and the island of Gottland becomes a literal unsinkable aircraft carrier

[wolacco]

Königsberg was never part of the Holy Roman Empire.

[craigsavarese]

I seem to recall reports last summer that Russia effectively gutted the military presence in Kaliningrad to bolster their war in Ukraine. At the very least, the equipment (tanks, artillery, etc…) was transferred.

[artursbondars]

Why didn't You mention that prior Teutonic order and all other foreign invaders it was Prussia proper, where Baltic Prussians lived. In place of Konigsberg there already was many Prussian settlements, on of them being Twangste. In Prussia there was other regions and cities as well. Even today there are people, who trace their identity back to Baltic Prussians and who speak Baltic Prussian as well.

[hvktzcm]

Russia should never have been given Kaliningrad

[mspicer]

The russian economy has shifted to become a "war economy", which is good for them in the short-term, but catastrophically bad in the long-term.
russia attacking NATO is laughable, NATO has more troops than russia does, by about 5:1. NATO also has more tanks, guns, planes, and ships.
russia has about most of its available military committed to the war, they can't afford to strip more from anywhere to do anything more. and nukes are expensive to maintain, the russians couldn't be bothered to maintain a **conventional** military, which was more likely to be used. I have serious doubts the russians have many operational weapons they can count on.

[USStateOfSiberiaGHWBush]

Prior to the illegal annexation of Crimea, Kaliningrad was like the closest thing to being like a Port of Sevastopol for Russia as such a strong military base. And with Russia's tensions against the U.S., I'm surprised that Big Diomede in the Bering Strait region isn't a strong military base like another Kaliningrad Oblast separate from the Russian mainland.

[wojteks]

You forgot to.mention, that Königsberg (Królewiec) was also subject of Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth for ages
And it's mixed population wasn't German, it includes Polish Lithuanian etc

[chetpomeroy]

It seems *these* days, the Suwalki Gap is as militarily significant as the Fulda Gap was in West Germany during the Cold War.

[skatee]

Your turnaround output of new videos must be some type of record. Do you ever sleep? Keep up the good work. (And, treat yourself to a well deserved vacation soon! Lol)

[neheru-neck]

Russia has not developed any fancy weapons. It's all bull. Armata, SU-57, Zircon etc.

[HaukeLaging]

This video is missing one important point: What about Belarus? The criminal regime there may fall any day now. It may well survive the next two years but not the next ten (it will not survive Russia's economic collapse). And then the country will turn to EU and NATO. What military use of Königsberg will be left for Russia if the distance gets that huge? Supplying it would probably become a lot more expensive and in the case of a war it would be overrun by NATO very quickly.

[joshbise]

Article 5 doesn't mean what you said. It means an attack on one is considered an attack on all. Just cause you consider yourself attacked, doesn't mean you're duty bound to retaliate.

[addeenen]

You can call it Konigsberg again. So the russians can already adjust.

[NUMMEHARBEN]

The Swedish military would not put boots on the ground to attack Kaliningrad because they are needed to protect Sweden. Swedish air force and fleet and robots can be part of a blockade and attack Kaliningrad but they may be needed to protect the Finnish and Swedish coasts and islands. There are countries with no land border to Russia that has to send troops and most of the air forces.

[NeCoNLive]

Requires icebreaker support during winter. That sounds abit outdated. Saint Petersburg to Kaliningrad is rarely frozen nowadays.

[parthasarathyvenkatadri]

Couldn't NATO use sweden to launch an amphibious landing on to the baltic states ...