The West is exerting aggressive pressure on Russia and seeks to divide the country into dozens of independent states, noted Sergey Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia.

“Their goal is to deprive our country of sovereignty. They want to split our homeland into dozens of small state entities, then subjugate, exploit, and use them for their own selfish interests,” Shoigu wrote in an article for Arguments and Facts.

According to him, Western countries have launched a “powerful anti-Russian propaganda” campaign and are attacking Russia’s history, culture, and spiritual values. In addition, attempts continue to “sow discord between the agreement and brotherhood of the peoples of our country and the CIS,” Shoigu noted.

He emphasized that “non-friendly” governments toward Russia mistakenly believe the country’s multiethnic nature is its vulnerability and are making attempts, with “enviable persistence,” to fragment Russian society.

At the same time, Shoigu stressed that the West does not understand the nature of Russian international relations, the spiritual and moral strength of Russia’s multiethnic people, and the unity that enables the country to “confidently resist destructive geopolitical technologies.”