1/22 In this Salo we will talk about the second chapter on how Russia has sabotaged and underminded Europe for 30 years. We will focus on revolutions and coup d’etats that Russia stirred up or tried to use for its benefit. 
2/22 Did you miss the first chapter about how Russia sabotages militairy organisations and infrastructure read here
https://twitter.com/SLAVAUA2022NAFO/status/1761432866678833402
3/22 A core tactic of Russia has been to find weaknesses in between Europes unity aswell as exploit seperatist movements. For Russia the prize was sometimes a direct region of influence, in other cases indirect in weakening a country. Some coup d’etats failed of course.
4/22 Soon after the Soviet Union broke up Russia already was involved in its first skirmish. In Transnistria, a small region in Moldovan the Russian community was concerned with their rights in the Romanian speaking Moldova. Russia worried about its weapondepots in Cobasna.
5/22 To gain control over Transnistria once and for all Russia send ‘peacetroups’ who in reality fought and chased the Moldovans out of Transnistria. Russian General Smirnov became Transnistrias first dictator. It was a big win for Russia as it had gained a strategic outpost
6/22 Russia mingled in another dispute in Georgia, in the Abkhaz province. It sided with local seperatists and proclaimed it had to help ‘the brotherly people of Abkhazia.’ Georgia couldn’t win and eventually signed a ‘forced’ piece treaty.
7/22 The practical consequence of The Independant Republic of Abkhazia was that it became heavily dependant of Russia for its economics. Russia had a new puppetstate, while to the outside world it could deny having control over it.
8/22 In Estonia (1993) there was unrest in the largely Russian populated areas of Narva and Sillamae. The Estonians had a strict language policy to gain a passport. Most residents were unable and both regions lacked Estonian teachers. Locals opted for a referendum to join Russia.
9/22 Estonia didn’t want another Transnistria. Russia had stationed troops close to the border and also still had forces stationed within Estonian. Tallinn thus opted international diplomacy and claimed the outcome invalid. An unstable ruble also gave second thoughts to some.
10/22 In 2007 Russia again tried to fuel unrest with the local Russian population. The FSB spread chainmails to take to the streets and topple the government. Russias secret service also took out government websites. Revenge for Estonia joining the EU 2007?
11/22 In 2013 I met a Russian Estonian called Edik in Lviv. I questioned him on his viewpoints of the whole situation. Quite bluntly he stated “You really think I want to cut my salary in half to join Russia?”
12/22 In 1994 there was already some unrest on the Crimea. Local Crimean government wanted to disband the Ukrainian laws and make their own. It was Yuri Meshkov who was on the forefront of the movement. Ukraine needed to tread carefully as Russia showed signs to intervene.
13/22 Ukraine was ‘saved by the bell’ so to speak. Russia started its first Chechen war which created infighting with Meshkov and other members of the movement. Ukraine saw an opening to defuse the situation reinstation Ukrainian law.
14/22 Crimea 2014. While Putin had declared in an 2008 interview that the Crimea was Ukrainian he did push for a coup. The secret services had done most of the work, to the Russian people it was branded ‘The revolution of the politepeople’ initially denying militairy involvement
15/22 Donetsk and Luhansk 2014 was a different story, Putin had send ‘titushki’ to create mayhem. They mainly consisted of thugs, warveterans, FSB and former FSB officers that were send to fake protests, agitate and take over local reign. Police was also bribed to remain passive
16/22 Often forgotten is Kharkiv 2014, were titushki took the city for a day. The ‘protestors’ mistook the opera building for the mayors office, most not being from Kharkiv. The local hooligan firm of Mettalist Kharkiv retaliated. Kyiv also send troops, Russia lost Kharkiv.
17/22 I was in Kharkiv in 2015 and met local Kamilla who explained the initial uprising was done by people who had Russian accents different from the region. It was fake and unsincere, locals stayed at home fearing beat downs. Kharkiv overturned the plot and remained pro Ukraine
18/22 Whenever you hear pro RU crowd or ‘neutrals’ talk about locals Russians being bullied in Donetsk or Luhansk. Just ask them why in Kharkiv - a region with similar demographics - the population is predominantly pro Ukraine. I predict that you will never get a fitting answer
19/22 In the previous series I talked about Russian UNIT29155. They were deployed by Russia in 2016 in Montnegro to stir up a coup, together with FSB and local collaborators. Russia was pissed the local government wanted to join NATO.
20/22 In 2017 Russia chose to mingle in Spain, the local Catalan Independence movement was a thorn in Spains eyes. Russia saw a great opportunity to give the movement and extra push via succesful media campaigns.
21/22 In 2022 Germany was the setting of another very weird incident. A fringe right wing was planning a coup d'etat. Security services apprehended 25 people who planned it one year in advance. Via a female Russian liason they had come into contact with Russian representatives.
22/22 /Footnotes: (1) I excluded South Ossetia (2) Included Abkhazia while Georgia is not seen as Europe by everyone (3) I excluded Brexit for lack of a smoking gun. (4) Russia also stirred up many coups in Africa. (5) Have a look at my other articles, like and share :).
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