Russian Propagandists Admit Public Is Laughing at Military Failures

(MOSCOW) – Russian state propagandists are exhibiting unprecedented levels of public doubt and internal discord, with prominent figures openly questioning the pace of the war, acknowledging widespread public mockery, and admitting that even another four and a half years may prove insufficient to achieve the Kremlin’s stated objectives.

In a striking departure from the triumphalist tone that has characterised state media coverage since the full scale invasion of Ukraine began, Russian commentators are now voicing concerns that would previously have been considered discrediting to the armed forces and potentially criminal. One propagandist, speaking on a state affiliated programme, stated that “we are getting to the point where people are just starting to openly laugh at us. Not just anyone, but patriots who care about Russia, its greatness, its army.” He acknowledged that sarcastic remarks about Russian forces taking “a pigsty and already bragging about a new victory for the whole world” reflect a genuine sentiment among the public that can no longer be dismissed.

The same commentator questioned the slow pace of Russian advances, noting that “if we keep moving forward at this turtle like pace, even another four and a half years probably will not be enough.” He attempted to attribute the sluggish progress to commanders preserving lives, an explanation that contradicts extensive evidence of Russian forces employing costly human wave tactics and suffering catastrophic casualties. He also noted that members of the public are increasingly asking whether the “special military operation” has been “dragged out long enough,” a question that challenges the very framing of the conflict that the Russian dictator has mandated.

Further evidence of narrative collapse has emerged in the form of pro Kremlin expert Boris Rozhin, who has been claiming for an entire year that Russian forces are capturing the settlement of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia direction. The repeated claims, documented across multiple broadcasts spanning twelve months, have drawn ridicule given the settlement’s negligible strategic significance and the apparent inability of Russian forces to secure it despite endless pronouncements of imminent victory.

Janez Kive, a Russian nationalist commentator, has posted analysis indicating that the Russian army is now officially shrinking at a rate of 9,000 personnel per month, with battlefield losses exceeding recruitment figures. This demographic reality has forced even the most virulent and genocidal nationalists to scale back their fantasies of imperial expansion. In one revealing exchange, nationalist Krasnovsky, who maintains that both Kyiv and Warsaw are “Russian cities” belonging to the Russian Empire, was forced to concede that plans to take Kyiv must be postponed because “it would now cost too many Russian lives to do so.” When pressed on whether Russia needs to take Kyiv, he replied, “Of course we need to and Warsaw too. These are our cities. But whether we can take it is another question.” The admission that capability no longer matches imperial ambition represents a significant departure from previous propaganda narratives.

Internal fractures within the propaganda apparatus itself have become increasingly visible. Russian television personality Victoria Bonya has publicly labelled Vladimir Solovyov and other propagandists “clowns” and announced she is preparing a class action lawsuit following insults directed at her. She stated, “We must teach these clowns to behave with dignity. If you do not know how to have a dialogue, then you have no place on a federal channel or in the Duma or anywhere else.”

Solovyov, for his part, has acknowledged that the public mood in Russia is “uneasy,” though he attributed this unrest to the actions of the central bank and the transition to the Max messenger platform rather than the consequences of the war itself or the policies of the Russian dictator. His refusal to identify the actual causes of economic and social deterioration suggests a propaganda apparatus that is increasingly incapable of addressing reality.

The Russian technology sector has added its voice to the chorus of concern. The Russian IT industry publication has warned that investment certainty has been lost amid the authorities’ attempts to tighten control of cyberspace and restrict mobile internet services. Sergei Vatikov of Russoft, an organisation representing the Russian software technology industry, stated, “Amid the instability, we IT specialists do not understand if there will be internet a month from now or in half a year.” The inability of businesses to plan in such an environment may have disastrous effects on the country’s digitalisation efforts and broader economic development.

In a particularly revealing propaganda failure, Russian sources claimed to have shot down Ukrainian strike drones bearing swastikas and Ukrainian flags, only for the footage to reveal that the drones in question were in fact Russian Molniya unmanned aerial vehicles. The error further cast the spotlight on the declining competence of the Russian information warfare apparatus.