Vladimir Putin is going on a property hunt, ordering officials to find Russian assets that once belonged to its former empire or were owned by the Soviet Union.

An order from the Russian president published late Thursday allocated funding for a state unit to conduct searches for property abroad and ensure Russia’s ownership rights are registered. The document didn’t indicate the size of the budget for the operation or what kinds of property are being sought.

While it’s unclear what prompted the order, Putin’s interest in former imperial possessions is unlikely to ease concerns about his ambitions among neighboring states after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended European security.

At its peak, the Russian Empire extended into territories of modern Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Finland. It dissolved under the pressure of World War I and the 1917 Bolshevik revolution led by Vladimir Lenin that marked the birth of the Communist state.

Non-paywall link

  • @paddirn
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    3010 months ago

    He’s probably going to start claiming Alaska as Russian property.

    • Jaysyn
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      1610 months ago

      And we’ll back the Swede’s bid for St. Petersberg & Moscow.

      • @tyrant
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        810 months ago

        Based on this comment and your user name it seems like you have a lot of hills you’re ready to die on

        • FuglyDuck
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          510 months ago

          goes to show how resillient they are, heh.

    • @Rakonat
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      410 months ago

      Try and take it.

      • @[email protected]
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        610 months ago

        Don’t even bother sending the Army to defend it. The locals are armed to the teeth, and the terrain is mountainous–perfect for guerrilla warfare. Let the first wave of landings go uncontested, then have the Navy pick off all the reinforcements and supply boats.