Putin enshrines his policy of "denazification" of Ukraine in a strategic document: ISW explains the Kremlin's plan

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has enshrined his alleged policy of "denazification" of Ukraine in a new state strategic document on countering extremism. He has demonstrated that he continues to make the same demands for the removal of the government in Kyiv that he made in 2022 when he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This is evident from the new so-called Strategy for Countering Extremism in the Russian Federation, which he signed on December 28. This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

It is noted that Putin signed the last iteration of this strategy of the aggressor country in 2020. And the 2024 document for the first time includes mentions of "Russophobia," which is defined as "unfriendly, biased and hostile" attitudes, and "discriminatory actions" against Russian citizens, language, and culture by states unfriendly to Russia.

"The 2024 document, unlike the 2020 version, also identifies Ukraine as the main source of extremism and accuses it of spreading neo-Nazi ideas. It says that Russia needs to "eliminate" the source of extremist threats originating from Ukraine," the analysts emphasized.

They recalled that in February 2022, when Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he claimed that Russia was allegedly "denazifying" the country – an attempt to justify the removal of the legitimate, democratically elected government of Ukraine. Recently, the Russian dictator made similar statements, reiterating his refusal to consider compromises on his demands for late 2021 and early 2022.

The document's references to "Russophobia" and "discrimination" against Russian citizens, language, and culture are also consistent with a recent statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that such alleged "discrimination" by the current Ukrainian government is the "root cause" of Russia's war against Ukraine and should be addressed in any future negotiations.

"The Kremlin is likely to use this new strategic document to justify its calls for the removal of the Ukrainian government as an anti-extremist measure," ISW suggested.

It is also reported that the Kremlin's strategic document includes points that will resonate with Russia's ultra-military ultranationalist community. This probably refers to the efforts of the Russian authorities to pacify and win the favor of this key group. In particular, the document claims that migrants in Russia are engaged in illegal activities that contribute to the spread of extremism in unspecified federal subjects of the country.

In addition, the document calls on the Russian Federation to strengthen its migration policy, in particular by combating "propaganda activities" that take place in the places where migrants live. It also calls for adjustments to educational programs in the South Caucasus and Central Asia to allegedly prevent the spread of Russophobia.

"Russia's ultra-nationalist blogging community has repeatedly called on Russia to adopt a stricter migration policy and complained about 'Russophobia' in former Soviet republics such as Kazakhstan. Putin, on the other hand, must cater to his xenophobic and ultranationalist electorate – some of the most ardent supporters of the war against Ukraine – while balancing Russia's need for migrant labor for its economy and military," ISW explained the Kremlin's moves.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine noted that the laws, which Russian propaganda calls measures to "protect sovereignty," demonstrate the Kremlin's fear. In fact, they are an attempt to protect the Putin regime from new threats such as the so-called Prigozhin's march on Moscow.

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