Russia Believes Ukraine Planning False Flags to Draw NATO Into War

Original Article by Sean Miller

On Tuesday the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) issued a statement claiming that Ukraine is preparing a series of high-profile provocations (false flag attacks) to blame Moscow and draw NATO into a direct war with Russia.

“…the SVR claimed that Kiev plans to use Russian-made naval mines to orchestrate an explosion involving a foreign vessel in the Baltic Sea. The alleged goal is to blame Moscow and prompt NATO to restrict Russia’s access to the Baltic on the pretext of ensuring maritime security,” RT said Tuesday.

Allegedly, Ukraine is seeking foreign mercenaries to carry out false flag terror attacks. This is similar to what happened in Oklahoma City.

“In its statement, the SVR also alleged that Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), in collaboration with intelligence agencies from several European countries, is planning attacks on Russian ‘non-systemic opposition‘ figures and businessmen residing abroad,” RT said Tuesday. “The plan reportedly involves recruiting perpetrators from Asian and Middle Eastern countries, offering up to $20,000 for participation, with instructions to blame the Russian intelligence services if apprehended.”

As the University of Notre Dame has chronicled, NATO greatly expanded over the decades, encroaching on Russia even after the fall of the Soviet Union.

“NATO has been increasing its military activities along Eastern Europe’s borders in recent years, citing security concerns over Russia. Last month, it announced plans to expand its presence in the Baltic Sea, launching a new mission to safeguard undersea infrastructure following a series of disruptions and damage to cables between member states,” RT said Tuesday.

Russia has criticized NATO’s military buildup on its borders, however it also said that it has no intention of attacking NATO member nations. It has criticized the West of using NATO’s newest members, Sweden and Finland, to make the Baltic an ‘internal sea’ under the West’s control. Russia, in tern, has vowed to do everything in its power to protect its interests there.

“It [Russia] has also warned that direct confrontation between Russia and NATO could escalate into a nuclear conflict, adding that it will respond to any hostile moves,” RT said Tuesday.

Notably, in November Russia updated its nuclear doctrine to respond to non-nuclear attacks with nuclear retaliation, including against nations supplying the attacking nation with conventional weapons. This allows Russia to preform a nuclear first strike on the U.S.