"Sweden has long been cultivating the image of a peace-loving free country, but this month has been in the focus of the two largest military exercises since the end of the Cold War," Borzu Darahani, a BuzzFeed News correspondent.

Today in Sweden, the exercises "Aurora 17" begin: "20 thousand. military personnel from nine Western countries, including at least 1,000. US marines, will conduct massive training, the purpose of which is to repel any hypothetical attack by Russia, "the newspaper reported.. And in a few days on the other side of the Baltic Russia will conduct exercises "West 17". To maneuvers "will be attracted up to 100 thousand. Russian servicemen and allies, "the author of the article.

"Military exercises that take place almost simultaneously, clearly reflect the atmosphere of growing tensions in the military sphere and mistrust that has developed in relations between Russia and Western Europe after in 2014 the Kremlin annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and continues to intervene in the events in the east of this country ", reads the article.

"I'm not afraid of the fact that the US is attacking Russia or Russia is attacking the US or the Baltic states, but the fact that a colossal accumulation of military equipment and numerous military exercises will entail a certain situation with unexpected consequences," said former high-ranking Swedish diplomat Sven Hirdman.

Sweden considers itself a bastion of social democracy and diplomatic neutrality, she preferred not to join NATO, reminds the author. "After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sweden to a greater extent than other countries, weakened vigilance. But now the Swedes are hastily strengthening their defense, "reports Daragahi, noting that Sweden has reinstated military service on conscription (although conscripts have the right to refuse it), increased defense spending, sent troops to" strategic outposts "and strengthened cooperation with countries NATO members. Some Swedes protest against the growing militarization of their country.

"Despite the provocative maneuvers of Russian submarines and fighters, as well as strange episodes of alleged Kremlin interference in Swedish political affairs - like those already familiar to other Western countries - few believe that Russia will ever attack Sweden or invade it," - the author writes. The main concerns are connected with the assumption that Sweden will be affected by an attempt by Moscow, as the article says, "again to occupy" Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Hirdman noted that during the Cold War, Sweden was "on the outskirts" of confrontation between the USSR and the United States. "Now, because of Ukraine, the Baltic countries and Poland, the confrontation line has shifted to the north and was here. And for Sweden it's bad, "he said..

"Sweden for years ignored the signs that the Russian threat from the east has not weakened," writes the author. He also recalls: "Norway several years ago sold a huge Arctic naval base, for the construction of which NATO spent billions of dollars, for some $ 4 million, and the buyer, a local businessman, immediately rented it to Gazprom, a concern associated with The Kremlin ".

But then there were the events of 2014. "Here's an ominous moment: some of the Russian military units that participated in the massive exercises" West "in 2013, later fought in Ukraine," - says the author.

"The year 2014 has changed the course of the game," says Michael Tophvesson, head of the cyber defense group at the Ministry of Civil Emergency in Sweden. - Then one European country invaded another and lied about it. It was a sign that one country is playing by other rules ".

The author goes on to describe the teachings of "Aurora 17". They will be held from September 11 in the forests on the island of Gotland and in some areas of continental Sweden. In addition to the Swedes, servicemen from the United States, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, France, Denmark and Estonia. Local authorities ask the population not to panic at the sight of foreign military and armored vehicles.

"Russia is the main challenge," said in May, referring to Aurora 17, Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hulttkist. - Russia has challenged the order of European security. This has a destabilizing effect in Northern Europe and beyond ".

The journalist notes: "Aurora 17" marks a notable change in the strategic doctrine of Sweden. Although the Americans had previously participated in joint operations with the Swedes, it was only rare that so many ground troops were involved in Swedish territory ".

"There was a much more hidden relationship with the US. There was an exchange of intelligence. Now this is being done openly and noticeably, "analyst Peter Westmane said about" Aurora 17 ".

According to the author of the article, after the events of 2014, strategists from Sweden and NATO began to look apprehensively at Gotland, which is considered one of the strategic points in case Russia tries to invade the Baltic states. "Last year, for the first time in more than 10 years, Sweden began deploying troops on this island, fearing that Russia would seize it with the help of a small paratroopers unit and begin delivering reinforcements there to prevent the West from defending Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia, the article says.

The Swedish parties as a whole agreed to increase defense spending by the equivalent of $ 250 million in 2018 and another $ 340 million a year in the next three years. Washington strengthened ties with Stockholm in the military sphere.

At the same time, the publication dwells on the history of the young Russian. Several years ago Yegor Putilov moved to Sweden. He "began writing articles for the leading left-wing newspaper Aftonbladet, opposing the admission of migrants to the country," reads the article. Sometimes Putilov polemicized with the observer Tobias Lagerfeld, who defended the rights of migrants.

"Last year, another young man of Russian descent, Alexander Friedback, settled himself as an assistant to the parliamentary faction of the ultra-right party" Swedish Democrats ", which stands on a tough anti-immigration position," the author says..

"It turns out that Putilov, Lagerfeld and Friedback are the same person," reads the article. - All this could be considered a mischievous trick or trick of an unbalanced young man, but the Swedish radio found out that Putilov-Fridbak-Lagerfeld bought a house in Stockholm for 750 thousand. dollars from a Russian businessman who is called corrupt, and soon resold for a double price. Scandal erupted, and Putilov resigned from parliament. Putilov said in an interview with BuzzFeed News that he was the victim of an unfair "blackening campaign" because of his Russian roots, and denied that he worked for the Russian government ".

According to the author, many Swedes considered that the incident with Putilov fits into the style of the Kremlin's behavior, designed to sow confusion, doubt and discord among Swedish politicians.

"Sweden has invested in such capabilities as anti-submarine warfare and modernized conventional weapons, but it also tried to resist actions that experts call" Russia's active measures ". The Stockholm Cyber ??Defense Department has a high-tech operational headquarters, subordinated to the Ministry of Civil Emergency. Its task is to counteract unreliable news and propaganda, which are believed to come from Russia, as well as from Islamic jihadists, "Daragahi.

"Some fear that joint exercises with the US, the repeated militarization of Gotland and the restoration of conscription can provoke Russia, whose armed forces are much more powerful than the army of any Baltic or Scandinavian country. Russia already warned Sweden against excessive rapprochement with NATO. And yet, Sweden seems determined to build up its armed forces and strengthen ties with stronger allies, "sums up the author.