Russia’s generals have spent years rehearsing hypothetical wars against NATO and its partners through secret computer simulations, according to an investigation released on Tuesday, Sept. 8.The Russian investigative organization Dossier Center found evidence that the country’s military leadership began seriously preparing for possible conflict with NATO no later than 2017.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.The simulations take place at the Russian General Staff’s Military Academy on the outskirts of Moscow, where an underground War Games Center is designed to resemble a military command post.About 50 senior officers and generals can participate in a session, assuming the roles of commanders responsible for aviation, naval forces, submarines, intelligence, air defenses and other military branches.Computers calculate casualties, troop movements and the depth of advances into enemy defenses while officers issue orders and watch their decisions play out on a large digital map covering most of the wall.The exercises, officially called command-staff war games, can last from several hours to several days. Simulations can involve operations ranging from amphibious landings and submarine maneuvers to responses against enemy aircraft.Gotland appears in 2017 simulationIn March 2017, Russian generals and senior military academy students participated in a multiday strategic simulation.Although Russia’s Defense Ministry provided few details about the scenario, Dossier Center analyzed a photograph published by the academy. A reflection in glass doors reportedly revealed a map displayed on the screen behind the participants.