Russian news agency TASS reported on Monday, January 29, that Nikolai Patrushev, one of Vladimir Putin's closest confidants, Appeared at the State Maritime School in St. Petersburg. During his speech, he referred to the war in Ukraine and its possible outcome.
Even if it goes out, it's his opinion The “hot phase of the conflict” does not mean the end of the war. He clearly defined the enemy and the goals of the Russian Federation.
It is worth recalling that Nikolai Patrushev was instrumental in persuading Vladimir Putin to commit armed aggression against Ukraine. This was discussed by Emily Ferris, an expert on Russia at the London think-tank Royal United Services Institute.
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Some experts do not doubt Patrushev's claim Along with what other Kremlin politicians say, this is an announcement of a possible expansion of offensive operations by Russia in NATO's eastern flank. However, they focus on something else.
Changing the Kremlin's narrative. A threat to the Baltic states
Spectators listening to voices heard during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Siege of Leningrad, They draw attention to a narrative shift in the Kremlin's rhetoric. Russian politicians no longer refer to the ideological narrative of the “Russian Mir”. Major emphasis was now placed on the struggle against Nazism.
The Institute for War Studies (ISW) indicates that the story focuses on the struggle against Nazism. This is an attempt by the Kremlin to create the information background for future attacks on NATO countries. This has to do with the fact that this type of news reaches a large part of public opinion in Russia itself.
ISW points out that such allegations have appeared in Russian stories before to the west, Recent statements by Kremlin officials show that Russian officials may call anyone whom they consider an enemy a Nazi. General Nikolai Patrushev's statement is the best proof of this.