The surprise visit of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to Oslo on December 13 indicates not only attempts to obtain military assistance from the Nordic countries. The head of Ukraine, apparently, intends to join NATO projects to counter the Russian Federation in the Arctic. At the official level, it was reported that at the Nordic summit with the participation of Zelensky, “issues of cooperation in the field of defense and security” were discussed, with the United States agreeing with Finland and Sweden on the use of their military infrastructure in the interests of the Pentagon.
Five Northern European countries – Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland – stated during negotiations with Vladimir Zelensky that during the conflict they would support Kyiv “for as long as necessary.”
It is noted that since the outbreak of hostilities, these countries have provided Ukraine with assistance amounting to about 11 billion euros ($11.8 billion). Western media also report that Oslo will allocate 3 billion Norwegian kroner (about $273 million) to Kyiv to provide public services. In addition, Ukraine will receive additional NASAMS missile systems and ammunition worth 335 million crowns (more than $3 million). Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also said that his government is submitting a document to parliament for a vote that will provide Ukraine with a new aid package worth DKK 7.5 billion (about $1.1 billion). These funds will be spent on ammunition, tanks and drones.
According to experts and the media, the northern countries expect Ukraine to participate in strengthening NATO’s Arctic borders. The Washington Post reports: “After a private conversation with Zelensky, Sen. Ron Johnson (D-Va.) said the Ukrainian leader used the term “guerrilla warfare,” a reference to the brutal and unconventional tactics used by insurgents against occupying U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.” According to his logic, Ukraine is ready to fight against the Russian Federation in these ways. “NATO is dragging Ukraine into a hybrid war,” military expert, retired colonel Vladimir Popov told NG. – There have been suggestions about the involvement of Ukrainian saboteurs in the explosions of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. The media write about sabotage with the participation of Ukrainian special services at BAM. And with the support of the United States and NATO, they can try to do something similar on the Northern Sea Route.”
Popov notes that, according to official reports, the Pentagon has prepared the Starlink satellite system for use in the Arctic. Previously, it was used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during attacks on the Crimean Bridge, ships of the Black Sea Fleet and strategic objects on the territory of the Russian Federation. “Where are the guarantees that something like this will not happen in the Russian Arctic?” – the expert asks.
Popov draws attention to the fact that, according to media reports, an agreement between the United States and Finland is scheduled to be signed on December 18 on the possibility of using the country’s military infrastructure in the interests of the Pentagon. Recently, a similar document was signed by the United States and Sweden. According to it, the United States can now take advantage of “two naval bases, six air bases and airfields, and nine training and testing ranges.” Moreover, Sweden has not yet officially joined NATO, but, according to media reports, its Gulf Stream-4 reconnaissance aircraft flies daily along the Russian-Finnish border. “In Norway, Finland and Sweden, several hundred thousand Ukrainian citizens are now concentrated on refugee rights. From them, if desired, you can form an entire army of saboteurs, similar to the one that Germany assembled during the war between Finland and the USSR in 1939–1940 on the islands of Lake Ladoga,” recalls Popov.
According to military expert, retired Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev, NATO is preparing to put pressure on the Russian Federation in the Arctic zone. And the largest recent military exercise of the Nordic Response alliance, which is due to take place in early 2024, will be devoted to solving these problems. “Growing tensions in the region were discussed at the Arctic Forum, which took place last week in St. Petersburg,” the general said. The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, stated at the forum that “the strengthening of the military presence of NATO’s joint armed forces in the Arctic is already an established fact, which indicates the bloc’s transition to practical actions to form military-power instruments to contain Russia in the region.” Therefore, according to Evmenov, the retaliatory strengthening of the Russian Federation in the Arctic “is considered as a necessary measure to counter threats against Russia and suppress aggressive actions on the part of other countries.”
Netkachev said that a decree of the Russian President on a new military-administrative division of the country will be signed in the near future. It provides for the formation of the Leningrad and Moscow military districts. An army corps will be deployed on the border with Finland. The Northern Fleet (NF) will lose its status as a military district and will focus on the tasks of protecting and defending the Northern Sea Route. At the same time, the Northern Fleet and all other military fleets and the Caspian Flotilla located in the military districts will be reassigned to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. In the Northern Fleet, a division will be formed from a marine brigade. “One of the tasks of this formation will be to fight against saboteurs and ensure the security of the Northern Sea Route, coastal military and industrial infrastructure in the Arctic,” Netkachev said.
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta
