Long-range missiles strike civilian targets across Europe. Baltic states are invaded. AI-controlled tanks rule the battlefield. As NATO warns of Russian attack in 20 years, a terrifying prediction of

uropean governments are ramping up military readiness in preparation for potential conflict with Russia The year 2024 is off to an alarming start. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division participate in the distinguished-visitors day as part of Griffin Shock 23 held at Bemowo Piskie, Poland, in May 2023 Russian T-72B3 tanks fire at Ukrainian fortified positions in Ukraine in undated footage A Leopard 2 tank is seen in action during a visit of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at the Bundeswehr tank battalion 203 at the Field Marshal Rommel Barracks in Augustdorf, Germany Former commanding General Ben Hodges, United States Army Europe, spoke to MailOnline about the potential for a future NATO conflict with Russia NATO is planning to mobilise 90,000 troops in its largest military manoeuvre since the Cold War in a bid to deter Vladimir Putin Phase One: Cyber warfare and missile strikes The technological capabilities harboured by bad actors around the world are growing exponentially. Russia warns the West by releasing chilling new footage showing the launch of an 'unstoppable' Zircon nuclear-capable Mach 9 hypersonic missile from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate The conflict would likely begin with a brutal missile attack, designed to cripple key military assets and infrastructure targets in Eastern Europe and beyond A Ukrainian serviceman attends an anti-sabotage mock drills at the border with Belarus, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chernihiv region, Ukraine Ukrainian servicemen dressed in Russian uniforms attend anti-sabotage mock drills at the border with Belarus, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chernihiv region P hase Two: Invasion - by land, sea and air If Russia did make the 'mistake' of attacking NATO in 20 years, Gen. Hodges predicts the Kremlin would launch assaults via land, sea and air in a bid to 'break' the military alliance. And Gen. Hodges says that after Putin had attacked a nation on NATO's eastern flank, Russia would wait to see how the military alliance would respond. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi shake hands during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia The Islamic Republic also leads a smattering of other heavily armed groups throughout the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels, as well as forces in Iraq and Syria that have authored drone attacks on US bases in the region in recent weeks Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps troops fire a missile This photo provided by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, shows its soldiers taking part in military exercises Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps force attend a rally marking the annual Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan in Tehran, Iran April 14, 2023 China represents another threat - though perhaps not directly to Europe.