German general's bleak forecast: "An attack could come as soon as tomorrow"

Zolfrank, in an interview with Reuters, warned that, given Russia’s current capabilities and combat power, the country “could launch a limited-scale attack on NATO territory as early as tomorrow.”

The general, who heads Germany’s Joint Operations Command and oversees defense planning, also reiterated earlier warnings that Russia could carry out a large-scale attack on the Alliance by 2029 if it continues its armament efforts.

Speaking from his headquarters—a spacious barracks north of Berlin—Zolfrank said that despite setbacks in Ukraine, the Russian Air Force retains significant combat strength, and its nuclear and missile forces remain unchanged.

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Although the Black Sea Fleet has suffered losses, other Russian fleets, he said, remain intact, while ground forces are taking casualties as Russia seeks to increase its total troop strength to 1.5 million.

Recent drone incursions into Polish airspace have heightened Western concerns over a possible escalation, Zolfrank noted.

Germany plans to expand its armed forces by 60,000 soldiers, bringing the total military personnel to around 260,000.

He explained that three factors—Russian military strength, military track record, and leadership—determine the likelihood of an attack, but the final decision will largely depend on the behavior of Western allies.

"These three factors lead me to conclude that a Russian attack is possible. Whether it happens or not largely depends on our actions," he said.

The general also warned of Moscow’s “hybrid tactics,” including drone strikes, as part of “non-linear warfare” which, according to Russian doctrine, precedes the use of conventional weapons and involves the threat of nuclear weapons—a strategy he described as “war by intimidation.”

The goal, he added, is to create uncertainty, spread fear, inflict damage, conduct espionage, and test the Alliance’s resilience, Zolfrank concluded.