NATO is coordinating plans to efficiently transport a large number of wounded soldiers from the front lines in the event of a war with Russia, possibly utilizing hospital trains where air evacuation may be impossible, a senior general told Reuters on Wednesday.
Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, head of NATO’s logistics command, explained that a potential conflict with Russia presents unique challenges compared to past operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Western forces would likely face a broader combat zone, a higher number of casualties, and a lack of air superiority near the front lines, at least in the early stages of the conflict.
“The task will be to swiftly provide high-quality care — in the worst case — to a large number of wounded soldiers,” Sollfrank said, without specifying the potential casualty numbers.
The medical evacuation plans are part of NATO’s broader efforts to enhance its deterrence and defense capabilities against Russia. NATO officials began reviewing existing strategies after President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Germany has already stated that its military forces need to be ready for a potential war with Russia by 2029, as Moscow continues to position the West as an aggressor due to its military support for Ukraine.
The conflict in Ukraine has triggered the most intense standoff between Russia and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Sollfrank, who heads NATO’s Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC), emphasized that evacuating injured personnel in a conflict with Russia would involve much greater distances than recent NATO missions. Russia’s air defense systems and fighter jets pose a serious threat to air evacuations, unlike the insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq. This could mean that hospital trains and buses may be essential for transporting wounded soldiers.
He also highlighted the need for standardized medical protocols across NATO members, suggesting a “military-medical Schengen zone” that would facilitate the movement of critical medical supplies, such as painkillers, across borders.
This cooperation would be crucial in ensuring prompt and effective care for the injured, especially in scenarios where existing cross-border medication transport rules may slow down emergency responses.
