Putin Creates Political Wing for Russian Army, in Chilling Echo of Soviet Era

Putin Creates Political Wing for Russian Army, in Chilling Echo of Soviet Era

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech at the Navy Day parade in Saint Petersburg on July 29, 2018. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP

‘All of this is reminiscent of a gradual return to the ussr.’

By Jeremiah Jacques • August 7


Russian President Vladimir Putin established a new political wing within the Army on July 30, designed to instill patriotism in soldiers during a time of rising tensions with the West. The move is a chilling echo of a Soviet policy that once saw troops indoctrinated in the principles of communism to ensure loyalty to the party.
“The role of the moral and political unity of the Army and society is increasing immensely at the time of global informational and psychological confrontation,” said Alexander Kanshin, deputy chairman of the Public Council at the Russian Ministry of Defense, earlier this year. “In conditions of a global information and psychological confrontation (with the West), the role of political and moral unity within the Army and society drastically grows.”
“[I]t is necessary,” Kanshin continued, “to fundamentally reform and significantly strengthen the armed forces’ entire [political] structure, which will organize, conduct and be responsible for the moral and ideological aspect of the Russian Army.”
Some fear that the establishment of the new political wing could mark the beginning of a broader revival of ideological education that could seep into schools and universities, and that the program could be used to expose individuals viewed as too pro-Western. “All of this is reminiscent of a gradual return to the ussr,” wrote Dmitry Drize, deputy editor of the Kommersant daily.
Drize’s fear of a return to Soviet practices is well founded. Back in 2005, Putin famously said, “[T]he demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” And he has been working ever since to restore Russian power to its Soviet levels. Putin’s restoration project has included resurrecting relics from the Soviet “glory days,” such as the Hero of Socialist Labor award, a Stalin-era public physical fitness program, the Soviet anthem and a Soviet-style law against dissent.
In 2008, Putin showed his people and the world that he was even willing to use force to re-create the geography of the Soviet Union.
That August, his armed forces invaded the former Soviet republic of Georgia, easily defeating all resistance. Moscow seized control of 20 percent of Georgia’s territory, and remains in control to this day.
This was a major geopolitical event, sending shock waves around the globe.
Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry discussed its significance in the October 2008 issue: “Russia’s attack on Georgia in August marks the beginning of a dangerous new era in history. This was the first military strike of a rising Asian superpower—and there will be more!”
Mr. Flurry went on to specifically name which other former Soviet nation might be targeted next: “Will a crisis occur over Ukraine? That area is the breadbasket of Russia, and surely it is willing to wage war over that as well.”
Time proved that forecast accurate. In March 2014, Russian forces furtively invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and annexed it to Mother Russia. Putin had literally redrawn the borders of Europe—twice.
Mr. Flurry wrote, “The fact that one man—one man—is responsible for this huge geopolitical shift is deeply significant” (March 2014).
Since then, Putin has continued using his power to prevent Georgia, Ukraine and other former Soviet countries from developing closer ties with Europe. He is also turning Russia’s military into a modern and more lethal 21st-century force. He pushed America out of his backyard in 2014 by persuading Kyrgyzstan to oust the U.S. from Manas Air Base. More recently, Moscow has become deeply involved in the Middle East, sidelining America, helping the brutal Syrian regime to stay in power, and allowing Iran to maintain its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
It is clear that Putin has made some major gains in his quest to restore Russia’s power and international relevance to its Soviet levels. And Bible prophecy shows that, going forward, he will lead Russia into an even more dangerous and aggressive direction.
In his booklet The Prophesied ‘Prince of Russia,’ Mr. Flurry explains that Putin is mentioned personally in ancient Bible prophecies. Those prophecies state that his reign occurs at the end of this age: “Vladimir Putin is a sign, literally a sign, that Jesus Christ is about to return! This is one of the most inspiring messages in the Bible. … We need to watch Vladimir Putin closely. I believe he is almost certain to be the ‘prince of Rosh’ whom God inspired Ezekiel to write about 2,500 years ago! We need to watch what is happening in Russia and how Europe responds to it.”
To understand the details of Putin’s role in Bible prophecy, and what it means for your life, order a free copy of Mr. Flurry’s landmark booklet The Prophesied ‘Prince of Russia.’