Russia likely preparing for potential prolonged conflict with NATO — ISW

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated this in its report.

"The Kremlin continues to repurpose narratives that Russian officials have repeatedly used to justify Russia's invasions of Ukraine in an effort to further militarize Russian society in the long term, likely in preparation for a potential future protracted conflict with NATO," the report says.

The Institute notes that on April 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the EU of fomenting a "neo-Nazi ideology" in Europe and stated that Russia "will do everything possible to ensure that this ideology does not raise its head" and will destroy Nazism once and for all.

ISW analysts point out that Lavrov’s statements are part of the Kremlin’s longstanding efforts to use the Soviet Union’s contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany and broader myths about the Great Patriotic War, as well as to discredit Europe and NATO. These efforts are aimed at strengthening negative sentiments among the Russian population and supporting the militarization of Russian society in the long term.

The agency recalled that the Kremlin has previously appealed to the myths of the Great Patriotic War to convince the Russian population that their growing social and economic sacrifices for the sake of Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine will help achieve a decisive victory, analysts write.

• Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that this year Russia will prepare 15 divisions, which will be fully or partially stationed in Belarus. From there, they could launch an offensive against NATO countries.