update(7:58pmET): On Friday we observed that something is in the air, as the tit-for-tat ratcheting allegations being traded between the West and Russia are getting more and more brazen and bizarre. Indeed it's feeling like a false flaggy weekend...
And now enter a Saturday evening UK government statement that's absolutely extraordinary as far as grand narrative accusations go. An official GOV.UK press release says Russia is secretly plotting regime change in Ukraine, with the aim of installing a pro-Kremlin political leader in Kiev:
"We have information that indicates the Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine," the UK statement begins. Though without offering anything in the way of specific proof for the bombshell claims, we are even told who specifically Moscow has in mind to install as a pro-Russia puppet, according to the unprecedented accusations.
Below is the official UK government statement, almost in full:
"We have information that indicates the Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine. The former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate.
We have information that the Russian intelligence services maintain links with numerous former Ukrainian politicians including:
- Serhiy Arbuzov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2012-2014, and acting Prime Minister in 2014
- Andriy Kluyev, First Deputy Prime Minister from 2010-2012 and Chief of Staff to former Ukrainian President Yanukovich
- Vladimir Sivkovich, former Deputy Head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council (RNBO)
- Mykola Azarov, Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2010-2014
Some of these have contact with Russian intelligence officers currently involved in the planning for an attack on Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:
The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.
Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy. As the UK and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs."
Some pundits were quick to note that the alleged plot sounds eerily familiar to events centered in Kiev in 2014, but in reverse...
Sounds like Britain has taken what the US actually did to Ukraine in 2014, and rebooted it for Russia. Here's Obama-Biden official Victoria Nuland & then-US Amb. Geoffrey Pyatt privately deciding to install Arseniy Yatsenyuk ("Yats is the guy") as Ukraine's next Prime Minister: https://t.co/PDoXBIY5kM pic.twitter.com/0fTraRMEvl
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) January 22, 2022
Journalist Aaron Mate reviews the evidence anonymous officials say allegations...
On this front, the NYT now claims that British intelligence "played a major role in exposing Russian interference in the 2016 elections."
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) January 22, 2022
How did Britain "expose" Russian interference? Are they talking about the Steele dossier? pic.twitter.com/lk4OZz4jOG
And a key question would further remain...
Could Moscow really install a pliant regime? Does it have a Ukrainian Quisling? A Ukrainian Pétain? https://t.co/SQ8zN4CwKZ
— Jeff Stein (@SpyTalker) January 23, 2022
* * *
The Pentagon and US intelligence is said to be watching Ukraine's northern neighbor Belarus very closely, given Moscow's recent statements confirming it is currently moving more S-400 missile systems into the allied country.
"Russia is moving two divisions of its S-400 Triumph air-defense systems, designed to take down enemy warplanes, into neighboring Belarus to take part in military exercises, the Ministry of Defense confirmed on Friday," Russian state sources report.
S-400 missiles are reportedly being transported to Belarus all the way from Russia's far east. While it comes as tensions are on edge, as the world's eyes are watching the Russia-Ukraine border, the transfer of major military hardware to Minsk is said to be part of preparations for joint Belarus-Russian war drills set to run February 10 through 20.
The exercises will in part be aimed at "reinforcing the state border." This is also likely intended as a response to this week's White House-ordered "lethal aid" delivery to Ukraine's military. The UK has also been flying in repeat plane-loads of weaponry, most likely including anti-tank missiles.
According to Pentagon officials cited in Fox News, there's concern that Russia can much more easily target Kiev if it wants, given all its military assets in Belarus:
Advanced Russian fighter jets have now arrived in Belarus, north of Ukraine. The Pentagon is concerned that Ukraine's capital is "now in the crosshairs," another official added.
But Russia has repeatedly sought to assure the West that there are no "invasion plans" - as has been the charge over the last two months.
Russian fighter jets arriving in Belarus, north of Ukraine. U.S. officials concerned Ukraine's capital “now in the crosshairs.”
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) January 22, 2022
pic.twitter.com/5RhuUkFmfN
But both sides are now accusing the other over the potential for a provocation which could quickly result in a shooting war on the ground. Likely any conflict should it erupt would center in Donbass, in Ukraine's east.
(Article by Tyler Durden republished from Zerohedge.com)