The Kremlin is forging a report justifying its military action in eastern Ukraine, writes Russian correspondent Erkka Mikkonen.
MOSCOW Russia has raised its national spirit today, Wednesday, by celebrating the Patriots’ Day.
President Vladimir Putin congratulated the country’s soldiers on TV news for protecting peace and citizens. The news flow then continued with new allegations of terrorist attacks and attacks on the civilian population in the rebel areas of eastern Ukraine by the Ukrainian government.
Events now appear to be advancing rapidly so that Russian “patriots” can soon begin open hostilities on Ukrainian soil. Namely, it is of paramount importance for the Kremlin to present the actions of its soldiers in order to protect their compatriots.
The state media has gutted in recent days, news of alleged attacks by Ukrainian forces in rebel areas. In addition, there have been reports of Ukrainian hostilities on Russian soil.
No substantial evidence has been provided. Ukraine itself denies the allegations.
News of the escalation of hostilities began last week on Thursday. The next day, the rebel leaders spectacularly began the evacuation of the sieve population in the area, with the Russian media closely reporting the incidents.
It seems that this was an operation written by Russia. The news of the escalation of the fires and the subsequent evacuations paved the way for Putin’s announcement on Monday of the recognition of the so-called “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.”
Putin explained in his TV speech recognizing the insurgency and ensuring their security in the face of a sudden escalation of the situation.
In his speech, Putin also reiterated the allegation that a genocide of the Russian-speaking population is taking place in eastern Ukraine. That is why Russia is only claiming to send troops to the puppet states it has created to “secure peace.”
UN Secretary – General António Guterres has knocked down unequivocally (you are switching to another service) Russia’s allegations about the genocide of people living in the rebel zone and the role of Russian forces as peacekeepers. According to Guterres, Russia has violated Ukraine’s sovereignty by recognizing the independence of the rebel territories.
Peskov may be right. Namely, Russia is known for first staging an attack by an adversary and then claiming to defend itself.
This time, Russia is defending the puppet states it has created, but also its own citizens living there. Russia has already issued a Russian passport to more than a million residents of the rebel zone, according to its own statement.
According to Putin, the territory of the “People’s Republics” it recognizes also includes those parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are currently under the control of the Ukrainian government. Thus, Russia will inevitably go to war with Ukrainian forces.
The Russians hardly want a waralthough many see a possible outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
Independent Levada Research Center December survey shows (switch to another service)that half of the Russians blame the situation in eastern Ukraine for the escalation of the United States and the military alliance NATO. This is especially the case for older age groups who traditionally get their news on state-controlled television.
Indeed, the Kremlin has turned the people behind its military action with the propaganda it has drummed.
Levada Director (moving to another service) Denis Volkovin according to the majority of the population will be made to support the actions of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, when military action is presented as saving local people from war.
You can discuss the topic on 24.2. until 11 p.m.