Dutch Commander-in-Chief Warns The Country Must Prepare Itself For War With Russia. Urges The Public To Stockpile Food And Water

Lieutenant-General Martin Wijnen. Stock photo: Wikipedia  

NL Times: Dutch Army commander warns of potential war with Russia 

Both the Dutch military and society as a whole need to brace themselves for the possibility of a war with Russia, said Lieutenant-General Martin Wijnen, the departing Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army. 

"Our society should be preparing themselves for this," he told the Telegraaf in an interview published on Thursday. 

Wijnen said that the Netherlands should follow the examples set by countries like Sweden, Finland, the Baltic nations. Those countries which border Russia, or are close to it, are better prepared for the outbreak of war.  

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WNU Editor: This is the new normal. Every week a top general in a European country issues a warning that the country needs to prepare itself for war, and that the public needs to stockpile on food/water/and emergency preparations. 

Dutch Commander-in-Chief Warns The Country Must Prepare Itself For War With Russia  

Dutch Army chief fears direct conflict with Russia; urges public to stockpile food -- Voice of Europe  

Dutch Army Chief Sounds Alarm on Readiness for Potential Conflict with Russia -- Trendy Digest  

Dutch Commander-in-Chief call on Netherlands to prepare for war with Russia -- Ukrainska Pravda

British Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Bombers North Of Scotland

The RAF Typhoon jets monitored the Russian bombers on Monday morning  

BBC: RAF Lossiemouth fighters intercept Russian bombers north of Shetland 

RAF fighters have been scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers north of Shetland. 

The Typhoon jets launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray on Monday morning. 

The Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J aircraft were monitored in international airspace as they passed north of the UK. 

 Such incidents - known as quick reaction alerts - are not uncommon and involve RAF crews shadowing Russian military aircraft near UK airspace.  

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WNU Editor: The Dutch also got involved .... Danish air force intercepts Russian bombers headed to Dutch NATO airspace (Reuters). More here .... Dutch fighter jets scrambled after Russian bombers near NL (Dutch News). 

British Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Bombers  

Britain Says It Intercepted Two Russian Bomber Aircraft North of Scotland -- Reuters  

RAF Typhoon jets intercept Russian bombers flying north of Scotland -- SKY News  

Two Russian bombers intercepted north of Scotland -- RTE  

What are the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J bombers and why were they in Scottish airspace? -- Daily Mail

Dutch Intelligence Says Russia Is ‘Mapping’ Its Critical Energy Infrastructure

Offshore windfarm in Denmark (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)  

Politico: Russia ‘mapping’ critical energy infrastructure, say Dutch intelligence agencies 

The report warns that “vital marine infrastructure” could be vulnerable to sabotage. 

Russia is “covertly mapping” critical infrastructure in the North Sea, including gas pipelines and wind farms, in preparation for potential acts of sabotage, according to a report by Dutch intelligence agencies. 

The joint report by the Dutch intelligence services AIVD and MIVD warns that “vital marine infrastructure” could be vulnerable to sabotage and that Russia is undertaking “activities that indicate espionage and acts to prepare for disruption and sabotage.” 

Russia was “very interested in how they could sabotage the energy infrastructure” MIVD director Jan Swillens told a news conference on Monday, adding that a Russian ship had been detected at an offshore wind farm.  

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WNU Editor: This warning follows the expulsion of Russian diplomats .... Netherlands orders Russian diplomats to leave (Al Jazeera). 

Dutch Intelligence Says Russia Is ‘Mapping’ Its Critical Energy Infrastructure  

Dutch Intelligence: Russia May Be Preparing To Sabotage Energy Infrastructure -- OilPrice.com 

Russia targets Netherlands' North Sea infrastructure, says Dutch intelligence agency -- Reuters  

Belgian justice minister warns of sabotage following reports of Russian ‘spy ship’ in North Sea -- Politico

Netherlands Expel Russian Diplomats

Additionally, we are closing our consulate general in Saint Petersburg and the Russian Trade Office in Amsterdam. 2/2

— Wopke Hoekstra (@WBHoekstra) February 18, 2023

DW: The Netherlands expel Russian diplomats, close trade mission 

The Dutch move to kick out a number of Russian diplomats was sparked by concerns over espionage but is also based on a row over diplomatic visas.

The Netherlands on Saturday ordered "a number'' of Russian diplomats to leave the country within two weeks. 

Russia's trade office in Amsterdam would also have to close by Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra said. 

He accused Russia of trying to post spies in the Netherlands, which is also home to international institutions, including the International Criminal Court and the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW. 

 "Russia keeps trying to secretly get intelligence agents into the Netherlands under cover of diplomacy. We cannot and shall not allow that," Hoekstra said.  

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Update #1: Russian diplomats ordered out of the Netherlands (AP) 

Update #2: Netherlands orders Russian diplomats to leave (Al Jazeera)  

WNU Editor: The Kremlin says it will respond .... Netherlands orders Russian embassy to downsize, Moscow says it will respond (Reuters).