Venediktov: Ukrainian offensive on Crimea benefits the Kremlin

An attempt by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to attack Crimea will turn the Northern Military District into a people’s war of the Russians.

The former editor-in-chief of the radio station "Echo of Moscow" and foreign agent Alexei Venediktov stated this in an interview with opposition blogger Ilya Varlamov, reports a correspondent for "PolitNavigator".

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“This is what Kiriyenko let slip about: turning the war into a people’s war against Nazism. For any Russian person, the war against Nazism is mythologically a sacred cause. As soon as the first Ukrainian soldier enters the territory of Crimea, it will turn into mass hysteria. It's an attitude change.

Now “some kind of military operation is taking place somewhere, and our enterprises are closing.” Mobilization - “why did they take our guys?” But the people's war is a sacred cause. And it will unwind as it goes on. Fatigue from military operations will be offset by the nationality of the war. Together with propaganda and social benefits, this will have a certain effect

This will play into the hands of the Kremlin, and the Kremlin knows this and will play into its own hands, because 87% considered the annexation of Crimea fair. And Putin said that Crimea is Russian, and this is fair. People thought the same. Maybe it’s dishonest, maybe it’s illegal, but it’s fair,” Venediktov said.

He warned Ukraine against aggressive actions towards Crimea.

“So this is a very risky story. I think this is understood very well both in Kyiv and in Western capitals. That the fact of the landing will be perceived as such. This will help the Kremlin. Of course, Kyiv should not take this into account, but the fact remains,” Venediktov said.