Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned that Russia could escalate its war in Ukraine in response to “terrorist” attacks against civilian infrastructure inside Russian territory.
Putin has framed his invasion as a limited “special military operation” that could be upgraded into a full-scale war. His government recently rejected calls to mobilize for war, but Putin signaled that there could be some sort of escalation.
“Indeed, we were quite restrained in our response, but that will not last forever,” the Russian leader said at a press conference.
“Recently, Russian Armed Forces delivered a couple of sensitive blows in that area,” Putin added, referring to Russian strikes on Ukrainian power infrastructure that came after Kyiv’s Kharkiv counteroffensive. “If the situation continues like that, our response will be more impactful. Terrorist attacks are a serious matter.”
Putin accused Ukraine of attempting to attack nuclear power plants inside Russia. “We even see attempts at perpetrating terrorist attacks in the Russian Federation, including — I am not sure if this was made public — attempts to carry out terrorist attacks near our nuclear facilities, nuclear power plants in the Russian Federation,” he said.
The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear power Plant inside Ukraine has been the site of frequent shelling, but Putin’s comments were the first time Russia accused Ukrainian forces of attacking a nuclear plant in Russian territory.
Throughout the war, there have been a series of attacks inside Russia near the Ukrainian border, including operations against oil facilities. On Saturday, Ukrainian shelling was reported in Russia’s Belgorod region. Local authorities said one person was killed and two were wounded.
I dunno attacking ammo dumps and transportation infrastructure used to supply the Russian forces in Ukraine seems pretty legit to me.
If he is actually speaking the truth about nuclear plants they really need to go for general mobilization but they need to look into the intelligence. Maybe some double agent making stuff up to make some quick money
One of the odd things about Ukraine’s artillery attacks on Zaporizhzhia is that they stopped as soon as the IAEA arrived. But Russia shut down the reactor within days. So that may also be an explanation.
The conflict shows no signs of de-escalating. Unless the parties can see this – heed the warnings of history, there’s no possibility of stopping WW III.
https://patternofhistory.wordpress.com/
It certainly appears you’re right. However, ultimately, the ownership class rules the US. And logically considered, its membership must cover the full spectrum, benighted to enlightened, of the bell curve. All the blood and suffering aside, they all see the economy of the West going down the toilet. And, as with Nazi Germany, the neocon ideology of world dominion is likely the fetish of only a rabid minority. So it could happen, say at the next gathering at Bohemian Grove, when Kissinger or his disciples propound the necessity of cashiering the crazies, it receives a sympathetic hearing.
Putin is making the argument that Ukraine is committing terrorist acts to seek approval for more power by the Duma. But it seems clear already that he is prepared to take down Kyev’s infrastructure. Each escalation leads to another escalation. So, does Biden just not get it? Or is he intentionally provoking these escalations?
Of course he is! There is no fool like an old fool. Thinking it is all a game in which we have to win. Just like video game.
It has not occured to Biden and the elite that is pushing him and the nation into the dangerous course of action — thst they ALREADY miscalculated. Seriously miscalculated.
Should they reflect upon these miscalculations? Analyze why they made mistakes? Press is not questioning them — so they mindlessly push on.
Instead of analyzing their mistakes, tgevelite and media focus on Russia. What will Putin do? He has to do something!
In reality, he does not have to do anything, unless Kievvand the childish Biden elites overreach — like Modsad style underhanded actions. Assasinations, bioweapons, endanger nuclear
plants.
Why does everyone think that Russia needs to go into warfare in a manner we expect? So far, all projections were wrong.
Russia will address threats, nothing more or less.
Instead of taking advantage of Russia’s static front for a few months, and initiate negotiations — it has been automatically assumed that it is Russia that has stalled, has no resources to continue without mobilization.
For people who made so many mistakes already, the confidence is baffling!
Let us go through the major miscalculations.
First, in the opening days of conflict NATO advisers bought into Russia’s move towards Kiev, expecting shock and awe. Instead in a surprise lightening fast operation Russia took Kherson, and Zaporozhie coastal area, connecting territory to Donbas. This included city of Kherson, Berdyansk, Mariupol as well as Zaporozhie nuclear power plant. Key strategic objectives achieved iin first two weeks. The Mariupol drama was just the media show.
Second miscalculation. No understanding of Russian Donbas strategy. Assuming a fast push for territory, and prepared to hold ground, and naively miscalculated that slow to no progress meant an opportunity to push back. The result was predictable. Ukraine lost hundreds soldiers a day, It took them a long time to stop throwing bodies into the shredder.
Third miscalculation. Go on Kherson. Really? That is called no strategy. And the lesson was learned quickly. With many casualties, and overflowing hospitals.
Fourth miscalculation. Amassing forces at Izum, signaling far and wide the intention to pick a less fortified area, Should have been a warning, but a victory was too temting.
Hello? Afe we hearing anything about Bakhmut? Not a word. Of course. Because this is a serious loss, endangering the Ukrainian Donbas logistics.
What is next on the ground? Anybody’s guess.
But on the strategic level, miscalculation are more grave.
First, the assumption that by going nuclear
financially, cutting off from SWIFT, taking Russia’s
reserves deposited in Western banks would have brought Russia’s economy down in the matter of weeks. Did not happen.
Second, the assumptiom that cutting down European purchases of Russian oil and gas, was going to deprive Russia of revenue, to
presumably deprive it ofvwar chest. Russia’ oil revenue has surpassed previous year. Selling less at higher price. Establishing new markets. Newly strengthening economies of Asia are growing markets, and there is no shortage of buyers. Threat of US secondary sanctions are
not making any difference,
Third. Corporations exiting Russia, popular brands, etc was supposed to create huge domestic problems, as well as a loss of investments, It turned out popular brands like
McDonalds sold out their business to Russian competitor, which means the same products will be sold, supplied by the same McDonalds
suppliers. The only difference is — they are not allowed to use proprietary names. like Big Mac, McFllurry. Difference to customers? Zero,
Same Starbucs, now Stars. This is on the pedestrian level, something Russians were supposed to be upset about. They are not.
Fourth. There is no shortage of companies
globally ready to buy exiting Western ones. Japanese company working on Russia Sakhalin
gas field is staying, and US is keeping quiet. Chinese, Indian, Turkish companies are moving in. Some Western have not left yet, despite political pressure.
Fifth. Assumption that Russia will be isolated has turned out to be West’s biggest faiilure,
Now, publications like NY Times is resorting to BIG lies. They claim that Xi and Modi have snubbed Putin!
Amazing. Both leaders went out if their way to empasize the histiry and present of warm relationships they have. And business speaks for itself. Using rubles, rupees, yuan. US is fighting it by picking presumably easier ttargets. Turkey is too independent for US taste. It profits from Russian tourism, with tourists using Russian Mir credit card. Rubles accepted. Mir is now accepted in many countries.
But by targeting Turkish banks US is attacking major Russia-Turkey business. It can hardly work. When both parties are determined to find solutiins — solutions will be found.
I suspect that the last round of Russia’s financing for Turkish nuclesr power plant is a calital infusion that will help Turkey deal with US sanctions games.
But it is all there is — US can target some, but not China or India. Nor Japan or South Korea.
And Europe has under US leadership entered a serious economic crisis. This may yet going to turn out as the worst strategic move. It is easy to ruin economy, very hard to build up.
To talk about terrorism when you’re the aggressive party in a war is pretty perverse. I know that Russia has been prosecuting this war carefully and with far less damage than we, for example, would. But that’s because this is not a classic war of conquest.
What a dumb article, omitting the most obvious reason.
The targeting of electrical power plants is not “revenge” for the Kharkhiv offensive or anything similar.
Ukraine has been targeting civilian electricity infrastructure, in Belgorod, in Russia, and elsewhere, particularly in Donetsk (22 electricity installations hit the past month), not to mention the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Russia is showing that it can stop all electricity in Ukraine any time it wants to, tit for tat.
“Russia is showing that it can stop all electricity in Ukraine any time it wants to, tit for tat.”
Better yet, Russia is showing that it can invade all of Ukraine anytime it wants to, too.
As I mentioned in another thread, Russia is likely to upgrade the “SMO” into an “anti-terrorist operation”. It’s possible this term is used to refer to Ukraine’s own “anti-terrorist operation” against the Donbass region in 2014-2015. That was aimed at exterminating the Russian-speaking Donbass residents. Putin may be hinting that if he is forced to escalate the situation, the gloves will be off and Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and state governing apparatus, which so far has been restricted against attack, will now be targeted, just as Ukraine has been attacking the Donbass civilians and civilian infrastructure fir the last eight years.
None of this will require any sort of “mobilization”, as Russia has more than enough standing forces to do the job. It will be mostly a matter of relaxing the “rules of engagement.”