MAPPED Russia readying for opening attack of World War 3 - DAILY NEWS

MAPPED: Russia readying for opening attack
of World War 3 RUSSIAN forces are readying for the opening
attack of a short decisive war against NATO, a shocking report has claimed. Thousands of soldiers along with tanks, warplanes
and missiles are on alert in Russias western frontier with Europe amid heightened tensions
with the West. Russia is claimed to be positioning its armies
in way to ensure a quick decisive victory over NATO. Fears of war have spiked on both sides, with
each blaming the other for failing relations - such as Britain and Russias war of words
over the poisoning Sergei Skripal.

Defence experts at the Atlantic Council have
now laid out the significant threat from Russia on the edge of Europe. Western forces stationed in Europe currently
do not have the firepower needed to defeat Russia. It describes the challenge posed by Russia
as needing a critical response from NATO to send more forces to the Baltic, Daily
Star Online can reveal. Atlantic Council experts show the extent of
Russian forces flooding rumbling around Putins western doorstop with seven whole armies within
spitting distance of Europe.

Russian forces are on the borders of Finland,
Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine as well as having a large force in the enclave of
Kalningrad - which is sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland. It describes Russia has having a doctrine
of opening attack designed to gain immediate advantage for a short war. This would help Putin ensure he could overcome
NATOs numbers advantage and potential seize capital cities such as Tallinn or Riga in
just 60 hours. Russias 48th and 59th army are stationed
on the Crimean peninsula, and slightly further north on the edge of Ukraine is the 8th army.

Meanwhile, the 20th army are also on the edge
of the Ukraine, while the 6th army is on the edge of Finland and Estonia. And then hanging back from the border is the
1st Guards Tank Army and the 2nd army just a stone's throw from the region. NATO also has numerous forces on the other
side of Russias border, with 800 troops in Estonia, 1,200 troops in Latvia, 1,200
troops in Lithuania, and 4,000 troops in Poland. The report - titled Meeting the Russian Conventional
Challenge - calls for NATO to send more forces to the border to meet the challenge from Russia.

Penned by defence experts Franklin Kramer
and Hans Binnendijk, the report says the alliance is fully capable of beating Russia. But this is only if steps are taken to send
up to ten brigades of troops along with warships and warplanes. NATO also need to ensure reinforcements can
arrive within ten days, and created a new eastern hub of its intelligence wing
focused solely on Russia. The report reads: An opening attack approach
is potentially feasible given the forces that Russia could bring to bear in the Baltic region,
as well as Russian cyber capabilities and the countrys extensive use of hybrid efforts.

It adds: Given the Rssian conventional
challenge, NATO needs to demonstrate an effective deterrent posture, so that any military conflict
in Europe would clearly be a losing effort for Russia The actual posture has not yet reached
the necessary level of capability. Russia has denied any aggressive intent to
the West and claimed military build-up in the nations west is in response to NATOs
aggression. The region has been on edge ever since Putin
annexed Crimea from the Ukraine back in 2014, a move which was branded illegal by the United
Nations. Fears of war have only flared since then as
Putin makes it his business to end the war in Syria, is accused of further aggression
in eastern Europe, and engages in a global campaign of hybrid warfare.

Britains latest row with Russia comes as
military grade nerve agent Novichok was used on MI6 double agent Skripal and his daughter
Yulia, 33 - poisoning 21 people in Salisbury. Russia has denied any involvement in the Skripal
case which came just days weeks before Putin won another six years as Russian president
last Sunday. Prime Minister Theresa May expelled 23 Russian
diplomats in response and has talked tough on Moscow, appearing to lay the blame on Putin. Renewed clashes with Russia in 2018, including
ongoing accusations of interference in the US elections has led to fears of a new Cold
War.

Daily Star Online previously revealed Russias
106 nuclear targets in Britain revealed from declassified government documents..