TWO US Stratofortress bombers have carried out a mission flying near Russian airspace in a powerful show of force to Moscow.
The move comes after a senior NATO chief warned that Europe must prepare for total war with Putin as nations are stepping up both military and civilian defences amid rising tensions.
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In recent weeks North Korea has sentthousands of troopsto support Mad Vlad and last Tuesday embattled Kyiv unleashed itsfirst long-range missileinto Russia.
There are now fears that war will spill over national borders, with Germany being the latest country to ramp up precautionary measures.
On Monday, two US Air Force B-52 bombers — codenamed “PHARO FLIGHT” — headed northeast over the North Sea before entering northern Europe.
Radar data showed the aircraft departing from RAF Fairford in the UK, flying over the Baltic Sea and nearing Russian territory in Kaliningrad.
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One of the planes, identified by Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists as B-52 60-0024, crossed into Finnish airspace.
Both bombers are conventional-only models, underscoring NATO’s focus on strategic deterrence without nuclear escalation.
The B-52 Stratofortress, a symbol of US air power since the Cold War, is a versatile long-range heavy bomber capable of carrying a variety of weapons.
Its endurance and adaptability make it a cornerstone of US and allied defence strategies, particularly in deterrence and precision-strike operations.
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The B-52s’ mission over northern Europe and the Baltic Sea sends a clear message to Moscow: NATO remains vigilant and capable of projecting power in contested regions.
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The choice to fly near Kaliningrad, one of Russia’s most militarised territories, highlights the alliance’s readiness to counter any aggression.
At the same time, preparations in Germany and Nordic Europe call for wartime economic resilience underline the broader challenges facing NATO.
As tensions escalate, member nations are reinforcing both military and civilian defence systems to prepare for potential conflict.
And as NATO increases its military posturing and civilian readiness, Russia will likely view these moves as provocative, further straining relations.
The Sun has contacted the US Air Force and the UK Ministry of Defence for more information.
Speaking in Brussels, a senior NATO official on Monday urged businesses to adopt a wartime mindset, adjusting production and supply chains to reduce vulnerabilities to coercion from adversarial nations like Russia and China.
“Economic resilience is as critical as military strength,” the chair of NATO's military committee, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, said.
He went on to emphasise that supply chains for crucial industries must be restructured to withstand potential disruptions or blackmail.
Germany, meanwhile, is taking tangible steps to protect its population from the fallout of a worsening international security environment.
The country's World War Three preparation plans have been revealed in a 1,000-page secret document dubbed "Operation Deutschland".
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The German interior ministry announced plans to expand the availability of air raid shelters by re-purposing public and private spaces such as basements, underground car parks, and subway stations.
A proposed app would also guide citizens to the nearest bunker.
The initiative, dubbed the “bunker plan”, reflects Germany’s response to the mounting threat of war spilling beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Nordic citizens have also been provided with terrifying war survival guides as nations on Putin's doorstep brace for World War Three.
Millions of pamphlets landed in Swedishhomeseerily titled: "If Crisis or War Comes," while other nations issue their own chilling advice to fearful citizens.
Stockholm has warned of what they call the worsening security situation - otherwise known as Russia's bloody invasion ofUkraine- and urged Swedes to prepare for conflict.
Meanwhile neighbouringFinlandhave published its own chilling advice online to prepare "for incidents and crises".
In a scarily detailed section on military conflict, the digital brochure describes how the government and president would respond in the event of an armed attack.
The Finnish brochure stressed that its authorities are "well prepared for self defence".
Norwegians also received a pamphlet urging residents to know how to manage on their own for a week in the event of extremeweather- or war.
Insummer,Denmark's emergency management agency put out a warning to Danish adults detailing the water, food and medicine necessary to get through three days of crisis.
SwedenandFinlandrecently gave up neutrality to joinNatoafter witnessing the atrocities Putin has unleashed inUkrainesince 2022.
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Norwaywas a founding member of the Western defensive alliance on the other hand.
WhileSwedenand Norway have not shied away from warning residents of war via pamphlet, Finland's Helsinki government decided not to print a copy for each home.
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