Multipolar World and the Ukrainian Crisis: Statements from Moscow-Installed Leaders
The leaders installed by Moscow in various Ukrainian regions have publicly asserted that Russian forces are preparing for renewed military action against Kyiv. Rodion Miroshnik, head of the Lugansk representative office, conveyed to the state news agency that reinforcements and reserves gained through partial mobilization, as well as the imposition of martial law and the integration of newly controlled territories, would be employed to launch a new assault against the Ukrainian government. He suggested that such measures would support future Russian military victories and warned that the pace of mobilization and logistics would be directed toward initiating further conflict.
In the same interview, Miroshnik described critical Ukrainian infrastructure and logistics as potential targets for future Russian operations, framing disruption as a strategic leverage for forthcoming successes by the Russian Armed Forces. He also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of being influenced by NATO and claiming that Washington seeks to isolate Russia on the international stage.
Additionally, figures associated with the Russian administration have framed the conflict in religious and ideological terms. One advisor to the Kremlin described the war as part of a broader struggle, invoking militant rhetoric and signaling a hard stance against Ukrainian forces. Another high-ranking official, the governor of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, labeled the conflict a jihad and indicated a willingness to take harsh measures, including the use of force against Ukrainian troops and territory in what he described as Russian possession of places like Odessa, Kyiv, and Kharkiv.
“Multipolar World”
On September 19, the Russian president announced martial law in the occupied regions, a move that, alongside stabilizing measures for nearby economies, was framed as formalizing the ongoing situation. After missile strikes damaged a key bridge in a Ukrainian city, civilians were urged to provide support with the anticipation of intensified clashes in the Kherson region, leading some residents to consider migration to safety elsewhere.
The Russian president described the global order as moving toward a multipolar arrangement, while noting that some members of the international community are attempting to preserve their dominant position regardless of the costs. He argued that new risks and challenges to collective security have emerged and that these developments reflect a broader shift in geopolitical influence. This perspective emerged during a meeting with leaders from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a forum comprising several former Soviet republics, where the Kremlin signaled a sustained emphasis on what it calls a special military operation and the broader strategic posture of Russia in the face of Western pressure.
During the same discussions, Russian officials reiterated accusations about Ukrainian plans they described as provocative, including claims of a dirty bomb—an explosive device that allegedly carries radioactive material—though Kyiv denies these allegations. The Kremlin asserted that Ukraine had effectively lost sovereignty and argued that Kyiv is under significant influence from the United States. In parallel, Russia conducted ongoing strategic deterrence exercises intended to assess readiness for a potential nuclear scenario, exercises that are described as routine but are framed by Moscow as part of its response to the conflict and the broader security environment.
Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, noted that the situation around Kherson had been difficult, with Kyiv’s counterattacks continuing and logistical challenges persisting on the Russian side. Reports from the Moscow region indicated concerns about supply lines and equipment shortages as mobilization continued, with soldiers describing gaps between expectations and reality on the ground.
Recent online posts from the region captured frustrations among mobilized personnel, including references to missing tanks and armored personnel carriers as they navigated uncertain supply chains and remote locations. A social media post from late October 2022 echoed these concerns, illustrating the frustration felt by some troops about equipment and the pace of preparations.
Putin has acknowledged gaps in provisioning and called for a quicker, more coordinated effort across all sectors involved in the operations. He emphasized the need for realism in assessing the situation, asserting that the same approach should apply not only to the military operation itself but to related activities across government and industry as the conflict evolves.