NewsRussia aims to undermine Zelensky with wanted list, says ISW report

Russia aims to undermine Zelensky with wanted list, says ISW report

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has interpreted Russia's decision to include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on its list of wanted criminals as an attempt to delegitimize his presidency. This action is viewed as a component of a Kremlin operation dubbed "Majdan3."

On Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs placed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the list of wanted criminals.

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10:02 AM EDT, May 5, 2024

The ISW has pointed out that the Kremlin's relentless efforts to depict its unprovoked military attack on Ukraine as something other than its true nature is ongoing. Furthermore, there is a concerted effort to extend Russian federal law over sovereign countries, said the Institute.

The ISW highlighted that, besides Zelensky, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs' list includes key political figures and former President Petro Poroshenko, as well as the commander of the land forces, General Oleksandr Pavluk. A noteworthy aspect mentioned by the ISW is that even the Russian state media has observed that the specific crimes these individuals are accused of committing were not detailed.

Russian state media has acknowledged the lack of specificity regarding the alleged crimes of Zelensky, Pavluk, or Poroshenko. The Institute explained that a Russian military blogger hoped that Zelensky's arrest warrant would restrict him from visiting countries with extradition treaties with Russia.

The ISW's most recent report connects Russia's pursuit of Zelensky and the Kremlin's "Majdan3" operation. A major objective of this operation is to challenge the legitimacy of Zelensky's presidency, which is expected to extend due to the ongoing war preventing the scheduling of new elections.

The document's authors noted that including Zelensky, Pavluk, and Poroshenko on the Russian wanted list is likely a segment of the Russian information operation "Majdan3." It's also part of the Kremlin's broader scheme to disrepute Ukraine's pro-Western governments established after the 2014 Ukrainian Euromaidan revolution and diplomatically isolate Ukraine.

This move by Moscow is also seen as a continuation of attempts to extend Russian influence over sovereign European and post-Soviet states.

Previously, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs had added numerous officials from NATO member countries, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, to its wanted list for purported violations of Russian federal laws within NATO territories. The ISW believes that these actions by the Kremlin are aimed at justifying future aggressions against NATO members by establishing certain informational pretexts.