Russia's secret war documents published... Potential targets in a possible war: Turkey is also on the list

Documents have emerged showing that Russia has been training its navy to target positions deep within Europe with nuclear-capable missiles in a possible conflict with NATO. Four locations in Turkey are also among the targets.

According to 29 secret files obtained by the British-based The Financial Times (FT), maps of targets ranging from the west coast of France to the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Britain were detailed in a presentation for officers before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The FT had previously reported, based on the same files, that Moscow had rehearsed using tactical nuclear weapons in the early stages of a conflict with a major world power.

The files, prepared between 2008 and 2014, contain a target list for missiles that can carry conventional warheads or tactical nuclear weapons. The documents state that the navy's "high maneuverability" allows it to carry out "sudden and preemptive strikes" and "massive missile strikes ... from various directions."

THERE ARE ALSO LOCATIONS IN TURKEY AMONG THE TARGETS 

The maps, prepared more for presentation purposes than for operational use, show 32 NATO targets in Europe for Russia's naval fleets. There are also locations in Turkey among the targets. In addition to Turkey, allies such as China, Iran, Azerbaijan, and North Korea are also on the list.

The leaked documents also show that despite the 1991 treaty between the Soviet Union and the US aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons, Russia has maintained the capacity to carry tactical nuclear weapons on its surface ships.

The targets of Russia's Baltic fleet are largely located in Norway and Germany, including the naval base in Bergen as well as radar sites and special forces facilities.

The fleet is expected to strike defense industry targets, such as the submarine shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in northwest Britain, or an industrial area near Hull.

IT ALSO SHOWS HOW IT WOULD BE APPLIED IN POSSIBLE WARS

The presentation also shows how the doctrine could be applied in possible wars in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

The scenarios also include wars with existing allies such as China, Iran, Azerbaijan, and North Korea.

The presentation also shows that 4 locations in Turkey would be among the likely targets of the Baltic fleet.

William Alberque, a former NATO official who spoke to the FT, said this example was a small fraction of "hundreds, if not thousands, of targets mapped across Europe, including military and critical infrastructure targets."

Analysts and former officials said that Russia's Europe-wide strike capacity means that targets all over the continent would be at risk the moment its military engaged in conflict with NATO forces in frontline countries such as the Baltic states and Poland.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly made threats against Ukraine's European allies to block the West's military support for Kyiv.

According to NATO's calculations, countries in the alliance possess less than 5 percent of the air defense capacity needed to protect the alliance's eastern flank against a full-scale Russian attack.

In June, Putin had said that Europe would remain "more or less defenseless" against Russian missile attacks.