Today it has been three years since Russia began its full -scale invasion in Ukraine. Despite the hope of an upcoming peace agreement, there is much that is uncertain about the end of the war – among other things after American and Russian delegations have talked without Ukraine, and the United States placed new demands on Ukrainian President Volodyyr Zelenskyj.
Russian scholar Malcolm Dixelius says in TV4’s “News Morning” that the war has led to consequences that Russia did not expect.
– It feels extremely heavy that the Ukrainians have resisted so brave these three years and still do not seem to receive the reward they deserve. But another page is the terribly brutal change that has taken place in Russia. After all, they hadn’t thought it would go like this either, he says.
“The country has become unrecognizable changed”
Dixelius believes that from a Russian point of view it was expected that the fighting would be over a few days after the invasion.
– Three days, or maybe a week, you imagined. Now they have been beaten for three years and probably have even greater losses than Ukraine, he says.
Last year was described as the bloodiest to date during the war, and according to experts, much indicates that the losses on the Russian side have been greater – both in military equipment and human life. Something that has had consequences for Russian society, according to Dixelius.
– Russian society is so militarized after that, so brutalized that I am sure I would not recognize it if I got there. I think the country has become unrecognizable changed, maybe too long, he says.
“War rhetoric in Russian media”
A sign of the changes can be seen in the Russian media reporting on the war, says Dixelius.
– Yesterday was the Russian soldier’s day, and it was such war rhetoric in Russian media. They talk about the people who fight on the front as the country’s future, he says, states that the country’s soldiers should be given priority for studies, work and political positions.
– Putin has announced this year for the “Motherland’s defense year”, you will accentuate throughout the year how important it is with the military. It’s hard to compare, he says.