On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made remarks that can only be seen as a threat of a possible Russian strike at a U.S. missile defense base in Poland, a NATO member nation. This would, obviously, represent a serious escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Russia has threatened to attack a new US defense base in Poland with “advanced weapons” — just hours after reportedly launching an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday. 

Moscow leveled the warning after saying the opening of the ballistic missile defense base, located in the town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast, would lead to an increase in overall nuclear danger. 

“Given the nature and level of threats posed by such Western military facilities, the missile defense base in Poland has long been added to the list of priority targets for potential destruction, which, if necessary, can be executed with a wide range of advanced weapons,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

There is some evasive language here; Zakharova seems to be carefully phrasing this as a possibility rather than an imminent threat. Even so, this should be taken seriously; any strike on Poland, as a NATO nation, would result in NATO's direct involvement - including the United States.

The US base at Redzikowo, which opened Nov. 13, is part of a broader NATO missile shield — known as “Aegis Ashore” — that can intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles, according to the alliance. 

“This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance in the strategic sphere,” Zakharova said of the base’s opening. 

“This leads to undermining strategic stability, increasing strategic risks and, as a result, to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger.”

It's not as provocative and destabilizing as invading Ukraine, of course.

Previously on RedState: Russia May or May Not Have Launched a Non-Nuclear ICBM at Ukraine

Ukraine Launches First Missile Attack Using New Authority From Biden, Putin Responds in Typical Putin Way

Because of the NATO involvement, any actual such attack would seem unlikely. A Russian strike on an American base in a NATO member nation would be a major escalation, resulting in a major war in eastern Europe between NATO and Russia - even with possible involvement by North Korean forces already in Russia. That would be a conflict Russia is ill-prepared for.

Poland also released a statement:

Poland stressed that the base does not pose a threat and does not hold nuclear missiles.

“It is a base that serves the purpose of defense, not attack,” said Pawel Wronski, Poland’s foreign ministry spokesperson. 

“Such threats will certainly serve as an argument to strengthen Poland’s and NATO’s air defenses, and should also be considered by the United States.”

Likely, Russia is just putting out some gaseous emanations; attacking NATO wouldn't be in Russia's best interests, and Tsar Vladimir I surely knows this. But the Ukraine conflict is dragging on, seemingly without end, and is in danger of devolving into a high-tech version of the Great War - a war of attrition that will just continue to bleed both sides with little hope of a military resolution.

Under Article 5 of the NATO charter, an attack on any NATO nation would be considered an attack on all NATO nations.

That could result in a World War 3 scenario. That makes any such Russian action seem even less likely - but if they do strike a base in a NATO country, buckle up.