Russia stimulates internal threats to support war in Ukraine and suppress opposition - ISW

This is according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russian officials continue to implement the information operation that the war in Ukraine is a direct threat to Russian security through legislative manipulations.

On February 3, the Bryansk and Kursk regions announced that they were extending the "yellow" terrorist threat level indefinitely "due to the need to strengthen measures to protect and defend Russian territory."

According to military analysts, officials in these regions are likely to use the new "terrorist level" regime to increase law enforcement measures to suppress "internal dissent," in part to present the war in Ukraine as a direct threat to Russia's internal security, and to ensure continued support for "Russian operations."

The report also notes that the Biden administration announced on February 3 a new $2.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine, including long-range precision missiles for HIMARS.

Experts note that Russian President Vladimir Putin continued his campaign against some "opposition voices" in the domestic information space, continuing to provide a platform for critical nationalist military bloggers.

In particular, it is about the arrests of the alleged administrator of the Novyi Vek and VCHK-OGPU Telegram channels and anti-war activist Oleg Seliverov.

Analysts recall that Putin censored several major opposition media outlets in late January 2023.

According to their observations, Putin is likely seeking to suppress opposition media that directly oppose his regime or its goals, including those with an anti-war stance.

At the same time, upholding nationalist bloggers who support Putin's regime and the war, but allow themselves to criticize the regime "for its poor execution of war aims they regard as insufficient”.