The new Russian Offensive Campaign

Artwork by Banksy. (Source: Reuters)

Look at this one.

The Kremlin appears to be conducting a coordinated information campaign threatening Finland. Wow!

"Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed on September 18 that the Finnish government’s “neutral veneer peeled off” and that revanchism is “literally on the rise” in Finland.

According to Institute of the Study of War (ISW) Russian Environmental Protection, Ecology, and Transport Special Presidential Representative Sergei Ivanov claimed on September 18 that Russian-Finnish relations “practically do not exist” and will not improve in the near future as Finland is a NATO member and is “actively calling for strengthening  eastern border.”

Ivanov claimed that the Finnish population is unsatisfied with the Finnish government and alleged that the lack of Russian tourists has led to “depopulation” and a weakening economy in southeastern Finland. Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee First Deputy Head Alexei Chepa similarly claimed on September 18 that Finland’s NATO membership caused Russians to stop buying property and visiting Finland, leading to “depopulation.”

Ivanov is a member of Putin’s inner circle, serving as the deputy director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) from 1998 to 1999 when Putin headed the organization.

Ivanov also served as the defense minister, deputy prime minister, and chief of staff of the Presidential Administration. Ivanov’s removal from his position as the chief of staff of the Presidential Administration in 2016 was likely a demotion at the time, but the Kremlin appears to be using him to reinforce ongoing Russian efforts to threaten Finland, reports ISW.

Kremlin newswire TASS and other Russian state media outlets notably amplified Lavrov’s, Ivanov’s, and Chepa’s statements.

ISW reports:

"The similar wording in both Ivanov’s and Chepa’s claims and TASS’ amplification of their comments suggests that this is a concerted top-down Kremlin informational effort targeting Finland. High-ranking Kremlin officials have increased threats against Finland in recent weeks, including by using language that mirrors the Kremlin’s false justifications for its invasions of Ukraine.

ISW continues to assess that the playbook Russia is currently using to threaten NATO mirrors the playbook Russia previously used to set informational conditions justifying its aggression against Ukraine."

 

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Of course, Ivan won't take an inch from my homeland.

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