Ukraine is taking back areas occupied by Russia – in Moscow there has so far been talk of a strategic “regrouping”. But that doesn’t convince even Putin’s loyal supporters of the war. Conservatives even question the combat capability of the Russian army.
Since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine, the Russian media unanimously and tirelessly spread the Kremlin’s message: everything is going according to plan. But in view of the recent humiliating setbacks for the Russian army, public criticism of the military operation has increased.
Experts, analysts, bloggers and officials recently criticized the army’s actions in television programs and online networks – a wave of devastating criticism that was previously unimaginable. The Kremlin is trying to stop this wave. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov warned that those who think differently must “adhere to the laws” that punish people who “discredit” the army. “It’s a very, very fine line, you have to be very careful here.”
The Defense Ministry in Moscow portrays the withdrawal of Russian troops from areas previously occupied by them as a strategic “regrouping” of its troops. The ministry denies that the Russian armed forces have suffered a debacle. But even Vladimir Solovyov, one of the most important Kremlin propagandists, recently admitted: “The situation is difficult and serious.” Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, for example, has sharply criticized the Russian army. In a voice message to his 2.4 million Telegram followers, the hardliner denounced the “mistakes” of Russian generals. If nothing changes, “I will be forced to contact the Ministry of Defense and the country’s leadership to explain the situation on the ground,” he said.
Municipal deputies from St. Petersburg are even demanding the resignation of President Vladimir Putin. The petition they launched with this demand naturally has no chance of success. Above all, what is new is that the criticism is now also coming from nationalist groups that have previously vehemently supported the military operation. The most recent setbacks in Ukraine are not the first for the Russian army since it began operations in February. As early as April, they had to withdraw from the area around the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. But the recent setbacks suffered after the military operation lasted more than six months are particularly painful for nationalist circles. There are only two possible explanations for these bankruptcies, the conservative commentator Yegor Kholmogorov judges: Either “we were betrayed” – or “our army is not fit for combat”.
“It is absolutely impossible to defeat Ukraine with the means that Russia is fighting with, with its colonial methods of war, contract soldiers, mercenaries and without mobilization,” said former MP Boris Nadezhdin in a televised debate – before another guest put him in his place pointed
Some of the strongest advocates of military action are now urging the Kremlin to adopt an even tougher stance in Ukraine. Blogger Maxim Fomin, writing on Telegram under the alias “Vladlen Tatarsky,” suggested a “preemptive nuclear strike” on Snake Island, from which Russian troops withdrew in July. There is much speculation about what the recent setbacks mean for Putin.
The president still has little to fear, says Tatyana Stanovaja, founder of the analysis center R.Politik. But if the situation at the front continues to deteriorate, “with more casualties, more defeats, then relations between the patriots and the authorities could be seriously tested.” With such a development, it could become more difficult for the authorities to take action against critics, says the political scientist. While the opposition could easily be discredited “as the West’s ideological enemy and mouthpiece,” the patriots’ protest in Russia could be “considered more legitimate.”
