Putin makes latest confrontational statements, military moves

The Russian government is obligated “to do everything
to preserve the spiritual and historic unity” of the Russian Orthodox Church
globally, President Vladimir Putin told the Worldwide Congress of Russian
Compatriots on Oct. 31. Many forces are currently trying “to tear apart these
ties, pull them into national apartments,” he said, as reported by the
pravda.com.ua news site. “I want to stress one thing – political speculation in
such a sensitive sphere always leads to serious consequences, above all for
those who do that.”

Sentiments of russophobia and other forms of extremely
aggressive nationalism are growing globally, Putin told the same forum,
promising to “decisively defend the rights and interests” of those feeling such
pressure abroad. “History is being rewritten, a struggle is being waged against
monuments, against the Russian language. People are being intimidated and
simply terrorized,” he said.

Russia is developing a new military base about 50 km
from Ukraine’s northern border, the informnapalm.org news site reported on Oct.
31. It’s being built at the site of a former hospital in the town of Unecha,
the report said. On Nov. 1, a Russian naval captain told a press conference
that he expects an independent state of Novorossiya will likely be created out
of the southeastern regions of Ukraine, according to Russian news sources.

Zenon Zawada: These
developments indicate the Russian leadership is preparing to expand its hybrid
war in Ukraine along many frontlines. They are the military front in Donbas,
the naval front in the Black and Azov seas, the religious front in the Moscow
Patriarchate Orthodox churches and the elections front. President Petro
Poroshenko will have to provide exceptionally strong leadership in the next few
months to not only resist this expanded aggression, but also avoid any
provocations that will cause the armed conflict to expand.