Kremlin intensifies information operations "to force the West to restrain itself" - ISW

Military analysts of the Institute for the Study of War point out that Russian government officials Dmitry Peskov, Sergei Shoigu and Sergei Lavrov have intensified propaganda operations to push Ukraine to negotiate and make the West afraid, UNN reports .

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that NATO and Russia are in a "direct confrontation," likely as part of the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to strengthen existing information operations aimed at forcing the West to self-restrain

In early April, Peskov said that relations between Russia and NATO "have slipped to the level of direct confrontation" and that NATO "is already involved in the conflict over Ukraine." Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in a telephone conversation with French Defense Minister Sebastian Le Coronneu, threatened that the potential deployment of French troops in Ukraine "will create problems for France itself.

Shoigu's conversation with Lecornu is likely an attempt to directly influence France's recent calls for Europe and the West to provide more military aid and other support to Ukraine, ISW notes.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is promoting information operations, imitating the interest in negotiations, as he used a meeting of dozens of foreign ambassadors from non-Western countries to condemn Ukraine's "peace formula" while saying that Russia is ready to negotiate, but on terms favorable to the Kremlin.

Recall

Over the past two weeks, Russian troops have increased the number and scale of ground mechanized attacks in certain areas of the frontline. This is stated in the latest report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The Kremlin has hired professional Russian actors to shoot a propaganda video about mobilization in Ukraineto undermine public confidence and mobilization efforts in the country.