Fears Putin will divide Ukraine up like Berlin

Ukrainian security officials believe Vladimir Putin is planning to divide Ukraine into two, echoing the division of Berlin during the Cold War. According to intelligence from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), the Kremlin’s strategy appears focused on destabilizing Kyiv while paving the way for a Russian-controlled regime in eastern Ukraine.

The SBU reports that Russian forces intend to create chaos in the capital through sabotage operations. These include attacks on power grids and communication systems designed to plunge Kyiv into disorder and flood the region with refugees—diverting Ukrainian forces away from strategic positions.

A key part of this plan involves deploying up to 2,000 Russian special forces to seize critical infrastructure like Sikorsky and Boryspil airports. Once secured, as many as 10,000 paratroopers, along with IL-76 aircraft and light armored vehicles, could be flown in from Russia and Belarus to reinforce the invasion of Kyiv.

The intelligence also warns that Russian operatives are planning arson, looting, and cyberattacks to weaken civil order and overwhelm law enforcement. These disruptions would coincide with military strikes across Ukraine to stretch the national defense and isolate Kyiv from external support.

One of the Kremlin's most alarming objectives is the targeted capture of Ukraine’s leadership, including members of the General Staff, Cabinet, and Verkhovna Rada (Parliament). These individuals, according to the SBU, could be detained and used to force Ukraine into signing a “peace agreement” under duress, portraying it as a legitimate political transition.

The Russian plan reportedly envisions replacing Ukraine’s leadership with pro-Russian politicians who would claim that current leaders had fled. This would mirror Cold War-era tactics—where Soviet forces solidified control over East Berlin—potentially resulting in a divided Ukraine, with the Kremlin recognizing only the Russian-controlled East.

A Ukrainian intelligence source stated,

“Who controls the capital controls the state. But Putin’s plans are known, and the Ukrainian military is ready to repel him.”

If true, this marks one of the most aggressive and organized attempts to reshape a sovereign European nation since the Cold War. However, Ukraine’s military leadership has signaled that they are fully aware of these threats and are preparing countermeasures.