Support for "LPR/DPR" to become financial, political burden for Russia - British intelligence

British intelligence community believes Russia's spending on the “LPR/DPR” pseudo-republics will only grow, and that this financial, political, and diplomatic burden will remain in place well beyond the current phase of the conflict.

This was reported on Twitter by the British Defense Ministry with reference to intelligence data, Ukrinform saw.

As noted, on December 31, 2022, the “LPR/DPR” armed formations were officially integrated into the Russian armed forces. During a visit to Rostov-on-Don, Russian President Viadimir Putin presented these formations with their battle colors.

The Kremlin claims that the “LPR” and “DPR” are integral parts of the Russian Federation following sham accession referenda held in September 2022.

However, since 2014, Russia has controlled both of these territories, having created the 1st DPR Army Corps and the 2nd LPR Army Corps, supported by the Russian military officers.

The status and identities of the "DPR" and "LPR" likely remain divisive within the Russian system, according to British intelligence. Even before the invasion in February 2022, these territories represented a significant drain of Russian finances.

"Now the Kremlin has overtly committed to supporting them, they will likely constitute a large political, diplomatic, and financial cost for Russia, which will last well beyond the current phase of the conflict,” the report says.

As reported by Ukrinform, British intelligence previously stated that the transfer of Russian long-range aircraft from the Engels Air Base to the Far East could affect the course of missile attacks on Ukraine.