Russia has begun informational preparation for the “Maidan-3” operation, – ISW

The Kremlin continues to try to justify an unprovoked war against Ukraine.

The announcement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia that President Volodymyr Zelensky , Commander of the Ground Forces Oleksandr Pavlyuk, and ex-President Petro Poroshenko are wanted is an attempt by the Russian Federation to establish the jurisdiction of its laws in sovereign post-Soviet countries and informational preparation for the “Maidan-3” operation.

As ISW reports , the Kremlin continues to try to present an unprovoked war against Ukraine differently than it actually is. Analysts drew attention to the fact that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia did not specify the crimes of Zelensky, Pavlyuk, and Poroshenko, as well as the alleged crimes of previous Ukrainian officials who were wanted by the Russian Federation, in particular, the head of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense Kyryll Budanov and the head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Malyuk.

One of the Russian media bloggers claims that the warrant for Zelensky’s arrest will not allow him to visit countries that have an extradition treaty with Russia.

The ISW also recalled the warning from official Kyiv that Moscow is intensifying the existing information operation called “Maidan 3”, aimed at creating doubts among Ukrainians about the legitimacy of Zelensky’s presidency. This operation is likely to peak at the end of May.

“The Kremlin’s decision to declare Zelenskyi, Pavlyuk and Poroshenko wanted is probably part of the Russian information operation “Maidan 3″ and the Kremlin’s broader efforts to discredit the current and previous pro-Western Ukrainian governments that came to power after Euromaidan 2014, as well as diplomatic isolation of Ukraine,” experts explain in the report.

The Institute noted that this is also one of the aspects of the Russian Federation’s ongoing efforts to establish the jurisdiction of federal laws in sovereign European and post-Soviet countries.

“Previously, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia already announced the wanted status of several officials from NATO member states, in particular Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, for allegedly violating a number of Russian federal laws on the territory of NATO member states. The Kremlin’s efforts to assert the jurisdiction of Russian laws are aimed at creating informational conditions, which should justify the likely future Russian aggression against NATO member countries,” ISW concludes.

The Russian Federation announces that the Ukrainian military-political leadership is wanted

As early as May 2023, the Russian Federation declared the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny wanted . The same decision was made regarding the current commander-in-chief, who then held the position of commander of the Ground Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

At the end of December 2023, Russia declared the commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Mykola Oleschuk wanted . This happened after the destruction of the large Russian landing ship “Novocherkask” in occupied Feodosia (Crimea).

In addition, the Russian Federation announced a wanted list for the head of the GUR, Kyril Budanov .

On May 4 of this year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia announced a wanted list for the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

(C)UNIAN 2024