According to intelligence services, the defense complex of the aggressor country is already suffering from anti-Russian sanctions by the EU and the United States. The Kremlin can use the respite at the front to restart its military industry. In parallel, Moscow is preparing the restructuring of the army.
Moscow can use the pause in the fighting on the front in Ukraine to prepare for waging a long war. On Tuesday, February 28, La Stampa writes with reference to the annual report of Italian intelligence, submitted to the country’s parliament.
As specified, Russia wants to use the quiet time to restart the domestic defense complex, which is already suffering from international economic restrictions.
“For Russians, an operational pause is necessary to recover and prepare for a long war. Moscow is trying to use this period of relative stagnation to restart the activities of the Russian military-industrial complex, which, while remaining significant in terms of production capacity, is beginning to be affected by Western sanctions,” in particular , according to the intelligence report.
2022 ended with Putin acknowledging the problems that the Russian Armed Forces had on the front line in the Donbass. It is with this that the proposed restructuring of the Russian army is connected, which is planned to be increased to 1.5 million military personnel, according to Italian intelligence officers.
They also suggest that in Russia the level of support for the war among the population has begun to decline. This is also evidenced by the number of citizens who today are trying to leave the territory of the aggressor country.
“While a large part of the Russian population continues to support the work of the Russian leadership, thanks to the spread of propaganda in the media, there has been a decrease in consensus in public polls, as also evidenced by the number of people who are leaving the country,” intelligence says.
The intelligence also clarified that Putin did not achieve his goals, as he underestimated Ukraine, its ability to defend itself and could not predict the West’s prompt reaction to the military aggression of the Russian Federation.
Italy is also confident that the Kremlin will not stop interfering in the internal affairs of NATO countries, resorting to cyber attacks, blackmail and disinformation.
Recall, on February 4, the media reported that Turkey was reselling American goods for military equipment to Russia in circumvention of sanctions. Turkish companies last year exported tens of millions of dollars worth of equipment, electronics, spare parts and other goods needed by Russia for its armed forces.
