A high-ranking Russian military official has issued a stark warning, suggesting that the conflict in Ukraine might escalate into a full-blown war in Europe. Colonel-General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, who leads the Russian army’s Military Academy of the General Staff, conveyed his concerns in an article published in “Military Thought,” a publication of the defense ministry, as reported by the state RIA news agency on Thursday.
Zarudnitsky highlighted the possibility of the Ukraine conflict intensifying, potentially evolving from the involvement of proxy forces to a large-scale conflict engulfing Europe. He emphasized that such a scenario cannot be dismissed.
According to RIA, Zarudnitsky attributed the primary military threats faced by Russia to the anti-Russian policies pursued by the United States and its allies. He accused them of waging a hybrid warfare campaign aimed at undermining Russia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and overall strength.
Moreover, Zarudnitsky warned that the likelihood of Russia being intentionally drawn into new military conflicts is on the rise. These remarks come against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has strained Russia’s relations with the West significantly.
The conflict in Ukraine has plunged Russia into its most severe confrontation with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly cautioned that the West’s involvement in Ukraine could escalate into a nuclear conflict.
Putin has justified Russia’s deployment of tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022 as a defensive measure to safeguard Russia’s security interests. However, Kyiv has portrayed Russia’s actions as an imperialist campaign aimed at erasing Ukraine’s national identity.
Zarudnitsky’s statements coincide with Western efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defenses with additional military aid and financial support, especially following Kyiv’s unsuccessful counteroffensive last summer and Russia’s subsequent resurgence on the battlefield.
In addition to issuing warnings, Zarudnitsky proposed various changes to Russia’s military and security strategies. These recommendations reportedly include relying more on alliances with friendly nations to enhance Russia’s security and fostering unity within Russian society to meet its defense requirements.
