Propaganda media turn away from Kremlin after russia’s defeat in Kharkiv region and Lyman – ISW

russia's defeat in the Kharkiv region and Lyman fundamentally changed the russian information space. Now propagandists criticize the military leadership of the russian federation and complain about the lack of transparency regarding the course of the war, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

"The Russian defeat in Kharkiv Oblast and Lyman, combined with the Kremlin's failure to conduct partial mobilization effectively and fairly are fundamentally changing the Russian information space. 

Kremlin-sponsored media and Russian milbloggers–a prominent Telegram community composed of Russian war correspondents, former proxy officials, and nationalists – are grieving the loss of Lyman while simultaneously criticizing the bureaucratic failures of the partial mobilization.[1] Kremlin sources and milbloggers are attributing the defeat around Lyman and Kharkiv Oblast to Russian military failures to properly supply and reinforce Russian forces in northern Donbas and complaining about the lack of transparency regarding the progress of the war," the report says.

Some of the guests of Kremlin TV programs, which were broadcast on October 1, even criticized the decision of russian president vladimir putin to annex four Ukrainian regions.

Kremlin propagandists no longer hide their frustration with the partial mobilization, often discussing the illegal mobilization of some men and drawing attention to problems such as alcoholism among the newly mobilized.

Speaking on live television, some expressed concern that the mobilization would not create the forces needed to regain the initiative on the battlefield, given the low quality of russian reserves.

The russian information space has significantly deviated from the narratives of the Kremlin and the russian ministry of defense that the situation is generally under control.

It is noted that the defeat of the russian federation near Lyman caused even more confusion and negativity in the russian information space than the withdrawal of the russians from Kyiv, Zmiinyi Island, or even the Kharkiv region.

Lyman's influence is likely more significant because the russians now fear being mobilized to solve problems on the battlefield.

Criticism of russian federal channels following the Kremlin's adoption of a law punishing russians with up to 15 years in prison for "discrediting the army" is a highly unusual development for Kremlin propaganda shows.

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