Kaliningrad wants to be called Konigsberg.

[EndlessWire]

Poland is insisting on calling it Krolewiec, which is the Polish version of the new name. Russia isn't happy about it.

In addition, there are rumblings about a desire for independence from Russia. Poland has about 10,000 troops at the border there, which they are not happy about. But, it seems possible that they could secede from Russia, and there wouldn't be a damned thing Russia could do about it.

In addition to the military weaponry that is stored there, Konigsberg has the only port that is ice free which Russia calls its own. Here's hoping that Konigsberg takes advantage of this wartime situation and that they secede.

[Frasier Balzov]

1. Konigsberg is Woody Allen's real surname.

[EndlessWire]

2. LOL! n/t

[Jim__]

3. A map indicating why Kaliningrad might not consider itself part of Russia.

[carpetbagger]

4. Won't happen in the current environment.

The West would be limited in what they could do to support a secession within Russian territory, and the Russian military would be very, very quick to send forces. And it wouldn't take much, since the exclave is primarily a military base already.

[Celerity]

5. The Suwałki Gap may well play a massive roll if Russian makes a play for the Baltics

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. When you say this, what's the basis?

Local media? Reports from non-Russian intelligence services or diplomats? Are you there yourself?

[EndlessWire]

8. Sorry for the tardy response.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/10/kremlin-calls-polands-decision-to-rename-kaliningrad-a-hostile-act

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-calls-polish-decision-rename-kaliningrad-hostile-act-2023-05-10/

https://apnews.com/article/russia-poland-war-kaliningrad-map-811eb734576cc567051558372daa51cd

https://www.rferl.org/a/poland-russia-kaliningrad-renaming-hostile-act/32405084.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65545636

[Amishman]

7. Good, the Soviet erasure of Konigsberg was a tragedy

It was devastated by WW2, and the soviets methodically erased all traces of its past during reconstruction. Demolishing (rather than rebuilding) Konigsberg Castle is particularly tragic.

Not to mention the typical removal and replacement of much of the population