ISW: The Kremlin revives Soviet narratives about "global threats" to justify a future war with NATO
Kyiv • UNN
The Kremlin is reviving Soviet-era narratives about Russia's "sacrifice" to justify future aggression against Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as long-term societal mobilization. This is part of the Kremlin's concerted effort to justify claims that Russia is at war with all of NATO, not just Ukraine.
The Kremlin is reviving Soviet-era narratives about Russia's constant "sacrifice" in the face of imaginary external aggression in an attempt to justify future Russian aggression against both Europe and the Asia-Pacific region and the long-term mobilization of Russian society. This is stated in a material by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), reports UNN.
Details
Analysts point to a statement by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) about France allegedly preparing a contingent of 2,000 servicemen for deployment to Ukraine.
This is part of a concerted Kremlin effort to justify claims that Russia is at war with all of NATO, not just Ukraine. The Kremlin often uses the SVR to spread unsubstantiated accusations aimed at weakening support for Ukraine and sowing doubt about the nature of Russia's own provocations against NATO member states.
They point out that since mid-September 2025, the SVR has increasingly published statements about alleged Western provocations against Russia, which represents a concerted pattern, "which is likely part of the information-psychological element of Russia's 'zero phase' campaign to prepare for a possible war with NATO."
"The SVR's revival of Soviet-era narratives that Russia must defend itself against imaginary global threats supports the Kremlin's broader efforts to garner domestic support for a protracted war in Ukraine and a future military conflict against NATO," the analysts conclude.
Recall
Last week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Putin is running out of money, troops, and ideas, and Russia must stop at what it has achieved. He emphasized that hundreds of thousands of Russians are dying because of his aggression, and support for Ukraine is working.