The Kremlin is trying to show its strength after the explosions at two of its military airports. The defenses near the border with Ukraine are being expanded and inspected by governors. President Putin identifies the West as the main culprit alongside the enemy.
After the explosions at Russian military bases, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would defend its interests by any means available. At the annual meeting of the Russian Human Rights Council, Putin also complained in a speech broadcast on Russian television that Western human rights organizations regard Russia as “a second-class country that has no right to exist.”
The answer is a consistent fight for national interests. Peaceful means will also be used. “But if there is no other choice, we will defend ourselves with all the means at our disposal,” he added. But it doesn’t currently make sense to mobilize more soldiers, Putin added, referring to the 300,000 reservists who had already been called up in September and October. 150,000 of them are currently deployed in Ukraine. Russian troops invaded neighboring Ukraine on February 24.
Putin stressed that the nuclear power’s nuclear weapons were used solely to protect the country and its allies, and as a deterrent. At a meeting with the Human Rights Council, which he appointed himself, the Kremlin chief dismissed fears that Russia could use the weapons for a first strike. Russia’s military strategy provides for the use of weapons of mass destruction in response to an attack. “That means if a blow is struck against us, then we hit back in response,” Putin said. Russia sees the weapons as “protection”.
Putin spoke again of a “special operation”. When asked, the Russian head of state also admitted that the offensive in Ukraine was a “lengthy process”. When Russia launched its military operation in the neighboring country in February, it had counted on a quick victory for its army. However, Ukraine was able to push back the Russian troops from several regions with the help of western arms supplies. However, the “emergence of new areas” is a “significant result” of the military operation, Putin added. He was referring to Moscow’s announced annexation of four Ukrainian territories by Russia at the end of September. In fact, however, the four regions are only partially controlled by Russia.
Meanwhile, governors of two Russian regions bordering Ukraine toured defense installations near the border. “This is a big task, especially important to ensure the safety of all residents,” Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia’s border region of Belgorod, told Telegram. Accordingly, he visited local fortifications on Tuesday. His counterpart Roman Starovojt from the Kursk region published photos of pyramid-shaped concrete blocks apparently suitable for anti-tank defense on Telegram.
Since autumn, the Russian authorities have accelerated the construction of fortifications in the border regions. Russia presents itself as a target for a warmongering West and Ukraine; the authorities imply with the buildings that Ukraine, supported by NATO, could invade Russia.
In its daily report on the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defense estimated that these border reinforcement efforts were likely intended to incite “patriotic feelings” among the Russian population. But it also shows that some Russian decision-makers actually believe in a “credible threat of an invasion” by Ukrainian troops.
Russia has accused Ukraine of stepping up attacks on Russian territory in recent weeks. On Monday, Moscow accused Kyiv of being responsible for drone strikes on two crucial military airfields in central Russia.
