Kremlin supporters are starting to acknowledge the weakening of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, as Moscow’s once dominant narrative crumbles following over three years of conflict.
Western nations have invested significant resources in supporting Ukraine’s defense, while optimism for a peace agreement brokered by Donald Trump has waned. US Vice President JD Vance recently emphasized the need for Russians to face reality, highlighting the loss of lives without substantial gains.
Former Ukrainian lawyer turned Russia advocate, Tatyana Montyan, has conceded a decline in Russian troop numbers, suggesting a potential mobilization effort by President Vladimir Putin. This move has already led to the exodus of numerous military-aged men from the country.
Notably, the pace of the offensive in early September notably slowed, with concerns raised by Montyan and politician Dmitry Rogozin about the inability to make progress. Pavel Gubarev, a veteran of Russia’s proxy wars, highlighted significant casualties on the Russian side and acknowledged Ukrainian strategic advantages from strikes on oil refineries.
Data on the conflict reflects the challenges faced by Russia, with minimal territorial gains and substantial troop losses. The Deep State group in Ukraine reported that Russia only acquired a small fraction of Ukrainian land while losing a significant number of soldiers.
Signs of discord are surfacing on Russia’s state-controlled television, with a guest openly disputing claims of catastrophic Ukrainian losses made by the Defense Ministry. This dissent underscores a broader weariness among Russian citizens after years of conflict, as noted by military analyst Ivan Stupak.
Stupak highlighted the weariness among Russians towards prolonged conflict, contradicting Kremlin assertions. He pointed out that dissenting voices challenging propaganda could face repercussions from the authorities, indicating a growing disillusionment among the Russian populace with the ongoing war.