Russian view of the war: reassurances – and growing skepticism

Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine unabated. Defense Minister Shoigu tries to highlight the losses on the Ukrainian side. But doubts are growing among Russia’s population.

Not a day goes without Russian state television reporting in detail about the actions of the Russian army. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu emphasized that the armed forces not only successfully repelled the Ukrainian counteroffensive. But also improve your own position step by step.

Shoigu speaks of Ukraine’s enormous losses

The enemy, Shoigu claims, has suffered enormous losses: “In total, the enemy has lost more than 13,700 people and around 1,800 various weapons and military equipment since the beginning of the month.” These are numbers that are intended to prove that progress is being made.

But it is still noticeable that even in the second winter of the war the fighting continued over the same places and cities – around Avdiivka, for example, or Kupyansk.

“There seems to be news from the front, but it’s going nowhere,” says Artemy Vvedensky, founder of the independent polling group Russian Field. “As recent surveys show, this leads to irritation, to say the least.” One in two people are now skeptical about the official news about the course of the military operation.

Pollster: Fatigue is spreading in Russia

In general, says Vvedensky, a certain level of fatigue is setting in. For the first time, more respondents were in favor of peace talks than in favor of continuing the military operation. “People want it to end,” Vvedensky said.

However – this can also be seen from the surveys – not at the expense of Russia. Only a minority would support a deduction without any ifs and buts. Because no matter how terrible a majority finds the war, the military operation declared by the Kremlin is still supported – at least passively, as long as there is no further wave of mobilization.

The first and so far only partial mobilization 15 months ago continues to have an impact today. Rumors on social media about a new wave of recruitment continue to send society into turmoil.

In addition, the wives and mothers of those mobilized at the time have now joined together to form a movement. They are increasingly demanding publicly the return of their men and sons, who, in their view, have helped out at the front for long enough.

The special military operation, according to reporter Maria Andrejewa from the Nastojaschee Vremja channel, is a necessary measure. But ultimately it’s a matter for the army. “If we wage a military conflict on foreign territory – and we do wage a military conflict on foreign territory – then it should be at the hands of a treaty army and not by the civilian population.”

No end to the war in sight

The authorities are still allowing the movement to operate largely unmolested. In contrast to the case of thousands of people in Russia who were sentenced to fines and long prison sentences for publicly expressing criticism of the war, no matter where or how.

A war with no end in sight. And for which Russian President Vladimir Putin is still prepared to spend a lot of money. According to the budget, well over 30 percent of government spending should go to the military.