Russia faces internal and external pressures, according to leadership

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during a meeting of the Council on International Relations that external forces are attempting to divide Russian society. He noted that such efforts to weaken the country's strategic potential have occurred throughout its thousand-year history.

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu echoed these sentiments, claiming that hostile forces aim to undermine the nation from within. Shoigu alleged that individuals seeking to destabilize Russia receive training in Poland and the Baltic states, often operating through non-profit and non-governmental organizations.

In a separate diplomatic development, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal protest to Norway. The protest follows the seizure of Russian movable and immovable property at the request of Ukrainian companies, which Moscow claims violates international law and the Svalbard Treaty.