Attacks on Russian military recruiting offices reveal waning trust in Putin's promises – British intelligence
Photo: Andriy Tsyhanov
British intelligence believes that the increase in the number of attacks on military recruiting offices and similar institutions in Russia may indicate distrust of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's promise not to conduct a new wave of mobilization.
The British Ministry of Defense reported that in the review dated January 28.
The agency cites data released by the Russian authorities on January 22 about 220 attacks on institutions related to military recruitment since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, statistics published by "Mediazon" indicate 113 attacks since July 26, 2023 alone.
"Taken together, these figures indicate a doubling of arson attacks on enlistment offices in the last six months," the intelligence agency notes.
The head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, Serhiy Naryshkin, said that the perpetrators of the attacks "acted at the behest of Western officials."
"However, an increase in the number of attacks is very likely due to a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the war among the Russian population, especially those who may be mobilized as soon as the second wave of mobilization is announced," the review said.
It is reported that some of the perpetrators of these attacks were accused of terrorism and treason.
"The new mobilization will contradict Putin's promise of December 14, 2023, that there will be no new wave – attacks with a high probability indicate a lack of trust in these promises," British intelligence believes.
For reference:
As reported, since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, law enforcement officers in the Russian Federation have registered 220 cases of attacks and arson of military recruitment offices and other government facilities, as well as 184 cases of railroad sabotage.
Therefore, on August 22 in Russia, there were attempted fires at approximately 20 military offices across various regions, including Moscow. According to Russian Telegram channels, it is believed that the majority of those arrested were victims of phone scammers who misled them into thinking they were aiding in the pursuit of criminals.
The day before, it was reported about nine attempts to set fire to Russian military headquarters on Monday.
In May, in the east of the Russian capital, Moscow, a fire broke out in the building where the Military Commissariat is located.
Also, in the city of Bratsk, Irkutsk Region (RF), unknown persons set fire to the building of the Central Military Commissariat.
In addition, on September 23, 2022, it became known about two more arson attacks on enlistment offices in Russian regions.
Also, two unknown people set fire to a wooden military recruitment office in Vladivostok, Russia.
Unknown people started burning not only the military commissariat but also other administrative buildings. In particular, in the village of Pushkino in the south of occupied Crimea, a "Molotov cocktail" was thrown into the premises of the local administration.
In Komsomolsk-on-Amur, an unknown man set fire to the premises of the Russian Guard, taking a canister of gasoline inside.
