WAJ NOTE: This is the 44,000th post published by Legal Insurrection since inception on October 12, 2008. Oorah!
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Not content with waging war in Ukraine, Russian officials are warning its neighbors Sweden and Finland, that they will face ‘military consequences’ if they join NATO.
Russia has issued a chilling warning to its neighbors Sweden and Finland, saying both nations will face ‘military consequences’ if they join NATO.Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that such a move in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would have ‘serious military-political repercussions.”Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences,’ Zakharova said during a news briefing.The foreign ministry later reiterated the threat on Twitter.’We regard the Finnish government’s commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe,’ the department wrote. ‘Finland’s accession to @NATO would have serious military and political repercussions.’
An intriguing history lesson, for those of us who like to look at the past for hints about the future. Russia invaded Finland during the ‘Winter War’ of 1939-1940. It didn’t go down as smoothly and easily as the Russians hoped.
A faked border incident gave the Soviet Union the excuse to invade on 30 November 1939. The Red Army was ill-equipped, poorly led, and unable to deal with the Finnish terrain and winter weather. Though small and under-resourced, the Finnish Army was resilient, well-led and was able to use knowledge of the terrain to good effect.Despite the overwhelming odds, Finland resisted for three months with little outside assistance. However, it was only a matter of time before the balance of power tipped in the Soviet Union’s favour.The Red Army came back strongly. Their command structure was reorganised, modern equipment was brought in and there was a badly needed change of tactics and personnel.
The Finns blamed Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov for war and named an improvised incendiary grenade after him. The ‘Molotov Cocktail’ proved to be a primitive but effective anti-tank weapon against Soviet forces. Reports are Ukrainians officials are following the Finnish example.
People in Kyiv were told to make Molotov cocktail petrol bombs on Friday as they hid in makeshift shelters and basements, awaiting a Russian assault on the Ukrainian capital.Missiles pounded Kyiv overnight and air raid sirens wailed, increasing fears among residents who did not flee the city of 3 million on Thursday that an assault was imminent.”Make Molotov cocktails, neutralise the occupier!,” the Defence Ministry said, while local authorities told people in the northwestern Obolon area of the city to stay off the streets because “active hostilities” were approaching.
The Swedes didn’t do very well during their last encounter with Russia in the 1740’s.
Meanwhile, the Finns don’t appear to be rolling over as a result of this threat.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson also seemed unmoved by the intimidation.
A former oil tycoon who spent ten years in prison has an explanation for the current situation. He insists that Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘has gone mad’ after ordering the invasion of Ukraine.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was once believed to be the wealthiest man in Russia, spoke out last night as Ukrainian troops battled to repel an attack by Putin’s forces…..Speaking to The Times, he attempted to explain Putin’s actions after the Russian president shocked the world by ordering the full-scale attack on Ukraine.He said: ‘I think we are not dealing with a sane person, it is someone who has gone mad.’He wants to make Russia great again and in 50 or 100 years he wants to be remembered as a great ruler of Russia.’
The threats against Finland and Sweden are suggestive that Khodorkovsky’s assessment may be correct.
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