Al Mayadeen: Russia is creating a society that will withstand all the conflicts imposed by the WestThe crisis in Ukraine is moving towards escalation, writes Al Mayadeen.
This is evidenced by Putin's decisions to increase the number of troops, new appointments in the leadership of the SVO and Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe. However, these measures will allow Moscow to withstand any conflict imposed by the West.
The Kremlin has denied rumors that Vladimir Putin intends to announce a new wave of partial mobilization or a change in the status of a special military operation (SVO). However, there are signs indicating an aggravation of the confrontation between Russia and NATO in Ukraine.
First of all, these are new appointments in the leadership of the SVO. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov was appointed commander of the Joint Group of Troops in Ukraine. Also, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced large-scale changes in the Russian army in the period from 2023 to 2026. In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to increase the number of military personnel to 1.5 million people, and the full—time strength of the Armed Forces to two million.
Large-scale changes will affect all types of the Russian Armed Forces and will require deputy ministers and commanders of military districts and fleets to take decisive measures. They also concern the interaction of conventional and strategic forces, that is, the "nuclear shield". It should remain a deterrent preventing a direct clash between Russia and the West.
The need to increase the number of Russian troops is dictated by the confrontation that the countries of the collective West have started against Russia, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He clarified that this is a proxy war, "which includes elements of indirect participation in hostilities, and elements of economic, financial and legal warfare, going beyond the legal field, and so on."
Peskov also recently spoke about the refinement of Russia's foreign policy concept, taking into account the current situation in the world. It will be approved by presidential decree without holding a "big" meeting of the UN Security Council at the beginning of this year.
Putin has submitted to the State Duma a bill on the termination of the Council of Europe treaties with respect to Russia from March 16, 2022. On this day, Moscow officially notified the Council of Europe of its withdrawal from the organization. The reason was the beginning of a special military operation to liberate Donbass and ensure the security of the country's western borders.
Russia's withdrawal from these agreements means that it will be released from its obligations to the members of the Council of Europe. It will not be obliged to notify the Europeans of the measures it has taken to combat terrorism, as well as the introduction of a state of emergency or martial law.
Moscow will also denounce the European Convention on Human Rights and get rid of other instruments of pressure with which the collective West continues to blackmail various world powers. How will Russia be affected by the withdrawal from these European agreements?
Russia is now obliged to notify the Council of Europe in the event of: the introduction of a state of emergency or martial law; the adoption of any measures related to military actions; temporary restrictions on the rights and freedoms of citizens provided for by the Convention on Human Rights; deviations from its obligations under international treaties, and so on.
The collective West is concerned that the Russian leadership will take any necessary decisions related to the introduction of a state of emergency or martial law. We are talking about the confiscation of funds and property of individuals and organizations, which in the future will be used for conducting military operations.
European countries have been developing appropriate measures after the suspension of Russia's membership in the Council of Europe. They assumed that Moscow would renounce the agreements six months after its expulsion from the organization and then they would be able to hold it accountable for the so-called "war crimes" in Ukraine. Therefore, Putin submitted to the State Duma a bill on the termination of the Council of Europe treaties from March 16, 2022.
Soon, the news spread in social networks under the heading "January 19 will go down in history." It quoted Putin's statement, which he made at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in August 2022. Here it is: "Due to the incessant supply of weapons to the Kiev regime, we have made a serious decision. Back on February 24, the West was warned by me that it was coming for interfering in our special operation and helping the Nazi regime. So far, only a small part of our military contingent has been pulled together in Ukraine."
These messages also contained references to political and military decisions that Putin may announce during his speech in St. Petersburg. Some predicted the beginning of a new wave of mobilization or an increase in the degree of confrontation, while others believed that January 19 would be the date of changing the status of a special military operation. Peskov denied all these rumors.
In any case, it is obvious that Russia is involved in a confrontation imposed on it by Western countries and NATO, which threatens to escalate into a direct military confrontation. Putin should focus today on adjusting the balance of power and resolving the conflict, which has become existential, as soon as possible. Russia is well aware of the scale of the threat and is doing its best to avoid the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis into a multi-year confrontation.
An increase in the number of armed forces and branches of the armed forces will gradually close all gaps along the Russian borders, that is, as the relevant external threats develop.
Russia needs to focus on the implementation of military mobilization programs for civil and people's defense, which include all citizens fit for military service, even if there is no need for their conscription. Society should be guided by the principle: "Be ready! Always ready!".
The measures taken by the Russian leadership have increased the production capacity of the military-technical industry. Russia is creating a society that will withstand all forms of military conflicts imposed by the West. After all, the Great Patriotic War at one time became an incentive for the Soviet people to create the strongest power, despite the high price and numerous sacrifices.
Author: Ahmed Hajj Ali (أحححممممممم)
