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Although he announced the start of the offensive in Ukraine on February 24, Vladimir Putin has always insisted that his troops are conducting a “special military operation” in the neighboring country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Western officials and analysts believe this could change on May 9, a symbolic day for Russia, with an open declaration of war that will give Putin the opportunity to expand his campaign.<\/p>\n
CNN explains that May 9, known as “Victory Day” inside Russia, commemorates the country’s victory over the Nazis in 1945. This day is marked by a military parade in Moscow, and Russian leaders traditionally stand over Vladimir Lenin’s tomb in Red Square. to observe it.<\/p>\n
“May 9 was created to appear in front of the local crowd, to intimidate the opposition and to please the dictator of the time”<\/em>told James CNN, James Nixey, director of the Russia-Eurasia Program at Chatham House.<\/p>\n Western officials have long believed that Putin would use the symbolic significance and propaganda value of the day to proclaim either a military achievement in Ukraine, or a major escalation of hostilities, or both.<\/p>\n Another option for Putin is to pass Russia’s mobilization law, which could be used to launch a general or partial military mobilization “in cases of aggression against the Russian Federation or a direct threat of aggression.”<\/p>\n This would allow the government not only to mobilize troops, but also to put the country’s economy in a “state of war.”<\/p>\n Mobilization could mean extending recruitment for soldiers currently in the armed forces, recruiting reservists, or bringing in men of combat age who have had military training.<\/p>\n However, according to him, it may still be possible for Putin to pass the mobilization law without formally declaring war on Ukraine.<\/p>\n Other options include annexing the breakaway territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, sending a major push for southern Odessa, or declaring full control of the southern port city of Mariupol. There is also evidence that Russia may plan to declare and annex a “people’s republic” in the southeastern city of Kherson.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n top channel
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