Is it true that Russia never waged offensive wars?

At the turn of 2021 and 2022, some Russian officials stated that in its entire history, Russia was never the initiator of the war. We checked the reliability of such statements.

December 25, 2021 Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov declared On the air of the Russia-1 channel: “Russia has never attacked anyone throughout its history. And Russia, which survived so many wars, is the last country in Europe, which even wants to even pronounce the word "war". " A month later, the chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Grigory Karasin He emphasizedthat “Russia never wanted war. We are all brought up in the traditions of grandfathers and grandmothers who always said that there may be different development in life, but the main thing is that there is no war. Russia has never been an aggressor. I did not attack anyone ".

Throughout its centuries -old history, Russia has repeatedly fought with neighboring (and not only) states, conducting military operations on its own land and in other countries.

One of the examples of offensive military operations initiated by Russia is the Livonian war, begun in January 1558. “In 1558, Russian troops passed through Livonia with fire and a sword from Pskov to Ivangorod, ruining the surroundings of Derpt,” - He wrote Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of St. Petersburg State University Ruslan Skrynnikov. Alexander Filyushkin, head of the Department of History of the Slavic and Balkan countries of St. Petersburg State University, clarifies: “There is a Russian letter of declaring the war of the Livonian Order, preserved in the original. It dates from November of 1557. Ivan the Terrible waited for the laid for three years since the conclusion of the contract, did not wait for the promised payment of Dani and went, as promised, "Slovati tribute" on his own. That is, the Russian invasion of Livonia is a planned action. ” However, the historian notes, in December 1557 negotiations were held between Russian and Livonian diplomats, after the failure of which the Russian army committed in January 1558 a raid along Lake Peipsi.

Russia was the initiator of the Russian-Swedish War of 1656–1658, the purpose of which was to return the lost at the beginning of the 17th century, during the Time of Troubles, the exit to the Gulf of Finland. The decision on the start of the war was made in February 1656, but active hostilities began only in the summer. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was waiting for the construction of river ships for the movement of combat supplies, siege artillery and food in the Western Dvina (Daugava) reports Historian Oleg Kurbatov.

The Northern War also began on the initiative of Russia. In the collective monograph "History of the Northern War of 1700-1721" indicatedthat on August 9 (20), 1700, a day after receiving the news from Constantinople about the signing of a truce with Turkey for 30 years, Russia declared the war of Sweden. Russian troops began the nomination from Moscow through Novgorod to Narva, the capture of which was considered a priority task.

From the declaration of war by Russia and the crossing of the border by the Russian Corps It has begun And the last Russian-Swedish war-1808–1809. In fairness, we note that the previous two (1741–1743 and 1788-1790) were begun by Sweden, trying to challenge the results of the Northern War.

February 5 (January 25 according to the old style) of 1808 Emperor Alexander the First sent In Stockholm, the ultimatum, which meant the beginning of the war, which, due to difficult weather conditions (according to the official version), was delivered to the address only three weeks later. At this point, the Russian corps had already crossed the border between the two countries, which took place approximately along the current line between Russia and Finland.

Russia has repeatedly Started Fighting and in wars against Turkey. In the war of 1735-1739, its formal announcement was postponed until 1736. The Russian army, under the command of Field Marshal Burkhard Minikh, took Azov and Ochakov, twice occupied Crimea, which was forced to leave due to the lack of food and the plague epidemic.

The next two Russian-Turkish wars (1768–1774 and 1787-1791) Started After the deviations of Catherine II ultimatums ports, from the actions of the Ottoman army on land and fleet at sea. Initiator of the war of 1806-1812 became The Turkish Sultan Selim III, who shifted without the consent of Russia of the Moldavian and Valakh Mr. Mavari Alexander Muruzi and Konstantin Ipsilanti and closed the passage through the Bosphorus for Russian ships. Russian troops, according to 16th article Kyuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty of 1774, occupied the principalities, in response Türkiye declared war on Russia in December 1806.

Soviet Russia, and then the USSR also waged wars more than once, which can be called aggressive. In particular, in May 1920, contrary to assurances about the imminent withdrawal of the Caspian flotilla from the port of Enzeli after the seizure of the White Guard fleet and the export of property of the White Flotilla, the RSFSR ships and the landing detachment of sailors Remained In Persian territory and for a long time, the government of the Persian Soviet Republic was supported. In February-March 1921 units of the 11th Army occupied Georgia.

It is hardly possible to recognize the campaign in September 1939, when the Red Army struck the rear of the Polish troops, trying to continue resistance to the German invasion.

Finally, the USSR, accusing Finland of the human victims of the shelling of the Soviet territory near the village of Minil on the Karelian Isthmus (in fact located on this section of the 68th Infantry Regiment of the 70th Infantry Division of the 7th Army I did not losses in personnel), Demanded From Helsinki to withdraw the troops and, in response to the request of the Finnish side, declared the war of Finland about the objective investigation of the incident. In response to the League of Nations on the termination of hostilities and the beginning of negotiations with the Government of Finland Moscow answeredthat the relations of the two countries are not at the war are regulated by the agreement on mutual assistance and friendship with the puppet government of the Finnish Democratic Republic. December 14 of the USSR was Excluded From the League of Nations.

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

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