Russia's Shadow War: unveiling a hybrid conflict against the US and its allies

The document dated April 11, 2023, which is an annexe to the publicly available concept of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs foreign policy, includes an appeal to create a mechanism through which Russia can weaken the United States' allies. This mechanism is supposed to rely on exploiting weak points in the domestic and foreign policies of the USA's allied countries.

The document confirms media reports and Western intelligence services about Russia's destabilizing actions as The Washington Post emphasizes.

In the document, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accuses Western countries and the USA of conducting a policy to maintain "Western hegemony." Another accusation made by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is conducting a hybrid war with Russia. In a secret annexe, the Ministry calls for interference in the domestic politics of Western countries, other destabilizing activities, and disinformation campaigns.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that a report by analysts from the American company Microsoft showed that false accounts linked with Russia conducted disinformation activities.

Using false accounts, Russians tried to convince Americans that continuing support for Ukraine is pointless. These activities aim, among other things, at interfering with the voters' opinions before the presidential elections in the United States, which are scheduled to take place in November this year.

The annexe also refers to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The entry in the secret document stating, "The outcome of the invasion of Ukraine will determine the global balance of power," suggests that Russia, together with other authoritarian countries, wants to impose its vision of the world on other countries - assesses "The Washington Post".

A Russian source connected to important Russian diplomats indicated to the American newspaper that the strategy outlined in the annexe had already been implemented. The fact that Russia rejected the American resolution in the UN Security Council, under which the USA and the UN would continue monitoring North Korea's ballistic missile development program, is a clear signal, "claims the Russian. This way, Russia strengthened its relationship with North Korea and affected the USA's position on the international stage.

Beyond the secret document, "The Washington Post" came into possession of recommendations made at the request of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by members of Moscow's Institute of the Commonwealth of Independent States. "Support for right-wing and isolationist forces in the USA should be continued", - wrote a member of the Moscow Institute, Vladimir Zharykhin, in his recommendations. He also appealed for support of destabilization in South America by backing extreme left-wing and right-wing formations.

According to his suggestions, it is also necessary "to renew the sovereignty of European countries by supporting political parties that are opposed to economic pressure from the USA"—quotes Zharykhin in "The Washington Post."

The document is an official confirmation that Russian foreign policy is not only reflected in diplomacy but, above all, in destabilizing and disinformation actions aimed at the USA and its allies - concludes "The Washington Post".