Staff School Lieutenant Colonel and Principal Geir Hågen Karlsen says Russia’s allegations are not credible.
– It is not an unknown strategy for Russians to accuse others of doing things they are involved in or suspect of, Karlsen tells NTB.
He points to allegations that the US has chemical and biological laboratories and that Ukraine is preparing to use dirty radioactive bombs as examples of earlier Russian allegations that have been refuted.
– When it comes to Nord Stream, obviously no one believes the story that the British are behind the attack. The first allegations soon came that the British had operated from Olavsvern in Norway, Karlsen says.
Accusations without evidence
According to the Russian defense ministry’s allegations, it was the same British naval unit behind the attack on Nord Stream that helped Ukraine prepare for Saturday’s drone strike in Crimea. No evidence was presented for any of the charges.
– Ukrainians have repeatedly shown that they were able to carry out drone and missile attacks without the help of others, says Karlsen.
– I think it is part of a larger game of the Russians to divert attention from the massive attacks on civilians in Ukraine, says the expert.
He says there are several target groups for the Russian accusations.
– All politics is local, so the most important target group is within Russia to legitimize the war there. It is becoming less and less popular, so any accusations they can make against the West and everyone else they expect will help mobilize support internally, Karlsen says.
– Another target group are other countries, such as China, India and African countries. Those who, to date, have not directly distanced themselves from the war and have openly criticized Russia. A third target group are the fringe groups in the West who still support Russia, she says.
– Propaganda about the attacks
He explains the very description of the drone strike in Crimea as massive – and the fact that Russia went out early and admitted that a ship had been damaged – as follows:
– On the one hand, it is good to advertise a massive attack to legitimize what they are doing themselves, and on the other hand, it will not be possible to deny it if there are so many images of fires and explosions on social media. So there is no other option than to blame the Ukrainians and even the British for making it a propaganda point.
Karlsen says Ukraine will continue with such attacks in Crimea and that they are demanding more long-range missiles and drones from the West to be able to do so.
– The Ukrainians are trying to shift the war to the Russian side, both to make the war more difficult for the Russians, but also to make the Russian population aware that it is a real war. Ukrainians are betting on a double effect, a direct military effect and an indirect political effect, says Karlsen.
