One of the simplest false operations to execute, yet the most consequential, was the Russian bombing of its own town, Mainila in 1939. With this the Soviets started the Winter War against Finland. Although the Soviets had massively superior military strength, it suffered heavy losses. But Finland lost 9% of its territory.
It’s somewhat similar to what has already transpired. Like the Russian deployment of troops earlier in the year and military exercises near Ukraine’s border, Russia also conducted war games in 1938 and 1939 close to the Finnish border.
It also mirrors the scenario being predicted for a Russian attack against Ukraine in the near future. False flag operations are organized attacks on themselves and these assaults are meant to be perceived as perpetrated by enemy nations or terrorists. This gives the ‘victim’ nation justification for military action internationally or repression in their own country. Russia has used false flags for both.
In November 1939, the Soviet Red Army fired artillery seven shots into its own town, Mainila. Finnish observers witnessed this. While the Soviets blamed Finland, the latter proposed a neutral investigation, which the Soviets rejected and broke diplomatic relations with Finland, three days after the bombing.
Access to the private archives of the Communist leader Andrei Zhadanov (who played a major role in the annexation of Estonia) revealed that the incident was orchestrated so as to accuse Finland of aggression and to justify a Soviet offensive. Because Mainila was out of range of the Finnish artillery batteries, Finland’s denial of responsibility was totally warranted. But Moscow still adhered to a tradition of legalism and a necessary cause for the attack had to be created.
(Pikemalt saab lugeda Eesti Elu 21. jaanuari 2022 paber- ja PDF/digilehest)