When will we start a special operation in Russia itself?

Russia needs SVO, which must be carried out within the country.

This opinion is expressed in an author’s column for PolitNavigator by the Russian writer Platon Besedin.

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Let's be honest, philosophizing with a hammer. What did we expect from the special operation in Ukraine? Or rather, what should we have expected?

We were told: denazification and demilitarization are the two main goals. They remained unchanged while other aspects were adjusted. By the way, often we – ordinary people – were not given a clear understanding of what is happening and will actually happen. They only assured that all goals would be achieved. But what are the goals?

One of the main ones, if not the main one, in my opinion, is mobilization in Russia itself. And now I’m not talking about conscripting hundreds of thousands of people into military registration and enlistment offices. We are talking about intellectual, economic and cultural mobilization.

_{The point is to make, if not super-effort, then at least a powerful effort to change the current state of affairs, which, obviously, cannot suit Russia. Otherwise, why all this talk about a new world order, about challenging the old regime, about the fight against Western hegemony?}

Yes, thousands of angry statements can be made. You can even fire hundreds of missiles at Ukraine, but this will not change fundamental things. The tectonic plates of history will shift only if important changes occur in Russia itself. First of all, in the semantic and ideological field.

But, for example, serious people are discussing: why will “BI-2” perform at the Russian Football Super Cup? The same ones, whose leaders Shura and Lyova hung the Russian flag, did not accept the letter Z and even reportedly kicked out two musicians from the group who were loyal to the special operation.

Hmm, strange, but why should we be surprised? They don't have any other artists for you. And, apparently, it won’t. The second is much worse.

In fact, it doesn’t matter who and how Lyova and Shura support. This is their own business. They can protest Boris Johnson's resignation by recording a song in his support. But what do they do at such events then? What are they doing, basically eating at the expense of the state?

Hypocrisy? Undoubtedly. And don’t let us be fed lists of artists supposedly banned in Russia. Only public opinion prohibits them - and that’s all. Like with Vanechka Urgant on “Scarlet Sails”.

However, tell me: what prevented the organizers from inviting other musicians? Just please, don’t talk about Gazmanov and Baskov. Patriotism is not an indulgence for a musician. For example, I wrote that Igor Rasteryaev would be very appropriate at this football match.

_{After all, what is important: his patriotism is not in fiery statements, but in songs and in actions, when a person is not under a contract, but with his soul for his Motherland.}

What hindered the organizers (and now I’m not just talking about the Super Bowl, but in general) is that no one is going to renew either the cultural or intellectual elite (I use this word) of the country. Yes, they thin out, yes, sometimes they delay, but is this a method? Who achieved what and where with bans? Another thing is important - the search for new faces, new talents, those who speak with their souls and sing with their hearts. Search and promotion, because they themselves will never get through - after all, the same Russian show business is guarded better than any oil rig.

Then there will be changes - real, driving, creative. The same applies not only to media and culture, but also to many areas. Because it is useless and even dangerous to arrange all this without renewal within the country itself, without the birth of new meanings, without effort, or better yet super-effort, to build a new society, where previous narratives will be written off as scrap.

_{Yes, it is necessary to conduct a kind of special operation inside Russia itself. And this is no less important and complex task than the one being implemented today in Ukraine. The task is for the survival of our country, our people.}

Honestly, it’s crazy that so many serious people haven’t understood this.

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