- Experts believe that Putin was attempting to restore the Russian Empire when he invaded Ukraine.
- However, as the war drags along, Putin’s attention has been glued to Ukraine.
- Some of his post-Soviet comrades are now expressing dismay at Moscow’s inability to provide assistance.
Experts believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin was anticipating a quick victory over Ukraine when he launched an unprovoked attack in February.
However, Putin’s control over the post-Soviet area may be less secure than ever seven months later as Putin’s attention and military power are still focused on Ukraine.
According to a report released in, the lack of Russian leadership in Central Asia/the Caucasus (which spans between Black Sea and Caspian Sea) has caused violent border clashes as well as frustration from Putin’s proxies in the region. The New York Times.
Taras Kuzio a professor of political science at National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy says that Russia has sought to maintain its influence over post Soviet states since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and even before Putin became president.
Kuzio wrote that Moscow never accepted the 1991 verdict and had always sought to maintain its imperial power throughout the former USSR in a piece for The Atlantic Council.
Putin’s desire that the West remain out of the former Soviet Union is evident, particularly in Ukraine. One of the Putin cited the Eastward expansion of North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a reason for his invasion. He has demanded that Ukraine — considered an aspiring NATO member — not be allowed to join the alliance.
Experts speculate that Putin was driven to power by a deep desire. To restore the USSR and the historical Russian EmpireThe, which predated Soviet Union and at one time or another Among other countries, Ukraine, Finland and Belarus, Georgia, Moldova. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan..
Kuzio explained that now, “evidences of Russia’s decline in influence can be observed throughout the post-Soviet World.” Putin’s Invasion Force in Ukraine is experiencing an increasing lack of manpower, which makes a mockery out of efforts to portray Russia as the second largest military power.
Russia has largely ignored a violent border dispute between Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan. They are both part of a military alliance. “Of course, they are distracted by Ukraine,” Sadyr Japarov, the president of Kyrgyzstan, recently said, according to The Times.
Armenia, another member, was attacked by Azerbaijan without any assistance from Russia.
Collective Security Treaty Organization is an alliance made up six post-Soviet countries and has been supported by Putin, NATO’s counterpart. The Times reported that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pahinyan is angry at Moscow’s failure to help him and threatened to withdraw from the alliance.
Kuzio stated that Russia had to pull out forces from some post-Soviet countries to redirect them to Ukraine’s frontlines. This was to make up for significant losses.
The absence of a Kremlin leader in the region has created an opportunity for other states to step up.
Kuzio wrote that Russia’s humiliating military defeats in Ukraine and economic isolation by the West have confirmed its status of China’s junior partner. He also added: “China has replaced Russia in Central Asia as the dominant power.”
Russia’s relationship with its powerful partners is also in decline after the fall of Soviet influence. Both India and China leaders expressed concerns over the war in Ukraine last month..
Putin has escalated war but Russia continues to suffer humiliating losses, such as Saturday’s explosion at a Important bridge connecting Crimea with the Russian mainland.
Are you a journalist with a news tip? Send a news tip to this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com.
