Some Russians may be surprised to see propagandists on their TV screens speaking critically about the Putin government. Ukraine's actions in Kursk have frustrated journalists and commentators, often referred to as "Putin's media soldiers," who now doubt the Russian authorities' words. Viacheslav Zarutskii, a Russian YouTuber living in Poland, has compiled examples of these journalists' dissenting remarks from various propaganda outlets.
"I don't know how they are allowed to say such things, but it's happening on all TV channels and radio," Zarutskii noted.
One Russian propagandist admitted that journalists routinely lie about the Ukrainian army's weakness, claiming that "a new government will emerge in some country and cut off aid to Ukraine" or that "the Ukrainian soldiers will just retreat, and we will win." However, many Russians are aware of the real situation on the front lines, far from the optimistic picture often portrayed.
On another channel, a host acknowledged that many Russians long for the way things were before.
"Our authorities received a colossal vote of confidence this spring. But it was a huge mistake to think that this trust is endless. If we continue to deplete it as we have in the past two months, we could face serious political problems," he warned. He also mentioned that Russia's political elites dream of returning to the pre-February 21, 2022, status quo.
"They want to bring back the moment when the Luhansk and Donetsk republics were recognized as independent states. Many of them want to reclaim their lost luxuries—a castle in France, a residence in London, a penthouse in New York, or an elegant villa in Dubai. But now they can't go there, can they?" the host asked.
Moreover, he added that Ukrainians are fully aware of Russian tactics and that he no longer trusts the assurances that everything will turn out fine.
Russians have opened their eyes. This is not a military operation, but a regular war
A host on a Russian TV station recently expressed deep doubts about the country's actions in Ukraine, highlighting the growing skepticism among Russian media figures. He noted that the government had promised Ukrainian troops would be cleared from the Kursk region within three days, but this never happened.
"About 200,000 people had to leave their homes, not to mention those in the Belgorod region who have already been displaced. We’re facing a federal state of emergency. Frankly, I don't buy into the idea that 'everything is alright.' I understand the reasoning behind it, but I just don't see it working," the host admitted. This skepticism extends to radio hosts, who are also questioning whether Russia can respond effectively to Ukraine's actions.
"We always claim we'll soon deploy something that will make the enemy tremble. But I get the feeling that if we had such a capability, we would have used it by now. It seems we simply don't have the tools to strike fear into the enemy," one radio host confessed.
Television commentators are now questioning whether the conflict in Ukraine can even be described as a "special military operation" anymore.
"In a war, you can win or lose because it's a well-defined concept with clear military laws. Some win, others suffer losses. But with a special military operation, there's no clear victory or defeat. The operation only ends when there’s an order to conclude it," the TV host explained.
He also pointed out the unsettling reality that "the enemy has been on Russian soil for two weeks, and even Russians themselves don't know who is responsible for this situation," underscoring the growing uncertainty and frustration among Russian commentators.
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