Russia is planning 'a wave of false flag attacks on its own cities, to be used as to manipulate the population into backing the war.
Russian ex-MP Ilya Ponomarev warned of state-backed terrorist style attacks that could have hundreds or thousands of victims.
The 46-year-old ex-politician, the only MP to vote against Vladimir Putin ’s annexation of Crimea eight years ago, said they would be orchestrated by the FSB but blamed on Kyiv.
He claimed the plot had been leaked by a security source as Putin’s government becomes increasingly desperate as its invasion of Ukraine continues to suffer substantial losses and fails to make progress.
NATO recently said that the Kremlin’s forces may have had as many as 15,000 troops killed with many more injured or missing in action.
This would represent a significant chunk of their armed forces personnel.
Ponomarev said: “After the failure of the blitzkrieg in Ukraine, Moscow faced the problem of an acute shortage of personnel to compensate for the losses incurred.
“At the same time, the state leadership has repeatedly insisted that a general mobilisation will not be introduced.
“In order to play back on this issue, a very weighty pretext is needed: the deaths of thousands of civilians, which can be blamed on Ukraine.”
His claims echoed an early incident where the Russian government were accused of staging a bombing of their own people to trigger another war.
In 1999, it was alleged Russian security services bombed apartment blocks, triggering the Second Chechen War, and also opening the door for Putin to get into the Kremlin.
Ponomarev added: “A source close to the Russian law enforcement agencies told Utra February [Russian anti-war group] that the Federal Security Service [FSB] is preparing an explosion at a chemical or oil refinery near Moscow or another large Russian city in such a way that the wind carries toxic substances to residential areas.”
As a result, he warned hundreds, possibly thousands of people could die and it would be blamed on Ukrainians.
He added that more than “20 enterprises” were being considered targets but the priorities were the Voskresensk Mineral Fertilisers chemical plant and Moscow oil refinery in Kapotnya.
He said: “Explosions at these enterprises, which are located in residential areas, could lead to numerous casualties.
“Explosions are also possible in public places, in particular, in the underground train network….
“Various options are in the works, and Muscovites will not necessarily be the victims of the planned terrorist attack.”
He even went as far as to warn people who live near a potential target that they might want to move away.
On top of that, he added: “We also do not recommend using the metro during rush hours or visiting crowded places.
“Remember, Putin and his entourage will do anything to stay in power.”
After he voted against Putin’s annexation of Crimea, the ex-MP fled Russia and lived in Ukraine in exile.
His mother was an assistant to Roman Abramovich when he was an MP, and he was a former vice-president of Yukos oil company.
