'Vladimir Putin has unleashed the dogs of war and they are very ugly animals'
A professor of international security and intelligence studies says Russia's attack on Ukraine is "going to get very ugly and quite drawn out".
"Vladimir Putin has unleashed the dogs of war and they are very ugly animals," Professor John Blaxland from the Australian National University in Canberra told A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw.
"This is potentially going to be catastrophic, way bigger than just what he's doing on the border of Ukraine, across from Belarus and Russia."
Professor John Blaxland from the Australian National University in Canberra. A Current Affair
READ MORE: First explosions and air raid sirens heard in Ukraine after Russia declares 'military action'
The professor said it appears there are airborne troops who have been deployed to seize ports and facilities on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and to the western side of Crimea.
"There are indications of actions inside Kyiv itself and there are indications of other actions in the Donbas region to the east of Ukraine," Professor Blaxland said.
"This could be a multi-pronged attack with maritime, air and land forces all conducting effectively pincer movements from the south, from the east and from the north, conducting sabotage, contributing to their cyber attacks that have been underway for the last few days and building to the point where they capture Kyiv, presumably.
Professor John Blaxland spoke to A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw. A Current Affair
READ MORE: Ukrainian mum leaving her kids behind to 'start serving' against Russia
"And establish a puppet regime that's prepared to recognise Vladimir Putin as 'Vladimir the great' and to subsume Ukraine into Russia."
The professor said while the message to Russians will be very controlled about what is happening in Ukraine, globally it will be a different story because "we will have access to different information".
"There is a strong resistance and a deepfelt, passionate anger and resistance to what's going on," he said.
Ukrainians have been training to defend their country against Russia. A Current Affair
READ MORE: 'Ukraine is going to be no walkover' amid Russia border threat, expert says
"But of course what Vladimir Putin's been doing for the last two decades is engendering that same kind of passion in Russia.
Professor Blaxland said he was watching today when Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced he would be stepping up on sanctions against Russia, which he said will be "powerful disincentives".
"If we're able to coordinate this internationally ... this has the power to really intimidate Vladimir Putin and his close circle," Professor Blaxland said.
For the full interview, watch the video above.
We’d love to hear from you
