Russia has moved on to making an example of Ukraine.
Russia is showing Europe that its cities could be left without access to electricity, water and sewage.
Former adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Alexei Arestovich, who has been added to the Russian Federation's list of extremists and terrorists, stated this in an interview with foreign agent journalist Yulia Latynina, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
"Russia has decided to bring Ukraine to a total humanitarian catastrophe this winter, something that never happened before. It was simply clear that there were no such attacks last year," Arestovich said.
He says it is impossible to say for sure why there were no such attacks last year.
"We don't know what their capabilities were or what their intentions were. We can confirm that they're clearly doing better this year. Not better, but much more effective," the former OP adviser admits.
He did not say whether these actions were a response to the attacks on Russian oil refineries. In his view, Russia is thus exerting pressure on both the Ukrainian authorities and Europe, particularly with the prospect of a new wave of Ukrainian refugees.
"And secondly, to exert a certain necessary influence on public opinion in the West. It's like a lesson for future reference. They'll talk later, but not later, right now. Do you want it like in Ukraine? Do you want Paris to be without electricity, Berlin without electricity, without sewage, without water in winter? No? Let's negotiate. That's the logic. An exemplary flogging," Arestovich believes.
Russia has moved to make an example of Ukraine.