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I understand it may cement the Russian public’s world view in a way that mildly helps Putin, but he doesn’t need this does he?
miro_o-
Why kill a spy who committed treason and got away with it?
From my limited understanding the fact that they didn't die almost immediately makes it sound like it was slightly bungled. So my guess would be the others were a mistake or collateral damage.
I doubt this has helped the global position of Russia, but it will have had an internal impact - as a distraction, reinforcement of the status quo, etc.
Also there is inevitably a blurring of lines between active policy and fostering a culture that carries out reprisals without always needing direction. By way of eg, look at Hitler's involvement in the holocaust. Just because there isn't strong evidence of direct orders doesn't remove his role.
hugo7
The whole system as it currently stands.
Obviously we can only guess at the exact reasons. But on a very general level, ruthless violence against enemies of the state is a pretty standard method of coercion.
I really don't see what is hard to understand here. Just have a read of accounts, or talk people who've worked out there. It's a bit like Ken's bit on RT from the other page, "Putin isn't sitting in his office plotting who to kill" (paraphrasing). Of course he doesn't literally spend his time in an evil genius cave plotting the downfall of the West. However, NATO and the EU represent a direct challenge to him by existing as powerful blocs and as such they will be undermined where possible. Equally any opposition whether it be Ologarchs, Hermitige Capital, or reporters will ultimately get there comeuppance.