Kirby indicated that this alleged Russian operation would be what is called “false flag” in US military jargon, that is, an operation “designed to look like an attack against them (the Russians) or their people, or people who speak Russian in Ukraine, as an excuse to enter” Ukraine.
In parallel, the spokesman stressed that Washington has indications that “actors of Russian influence” have begun to spread false provocations by Ukraine, both in state media and on social networks to “try to justify in advance some pretext for an incursion” .
Kirby affirmed that it is not the first time that the United States has seen Russia act in this way and clarified that when Washington speaks of “Russian operatives” preparing a pretext to enter Ukrainian soil, it refers to “a mixture of individuals within the Russian government “.
These operatives can range from agents of the intelligence and security services, to even soldiers. “They are often hybrids,” Kirby said.
To a question from the journalists about whether the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was aware of these maneuvers, the US spokesman said that “it is difficult for this type of activity to be carried out without the knowledge, or without the approval of the highest levels senior members of the Russian government.