Ukraine war: Russian bloggers startling criticism of warfare

Created: 05/21/2022, 04:58

By: Delia Friess

Several Russian bloggers have spoken out on Telegram and criticized the warfare in Ukraine.

It is unclear whether this is also part of the Russian strategy.

Moscow - According to reports from various media, including CNN and ARD, there are some comments in the Russian state press that are surprised at Ukraine's motivation and willingness to defend itself in the Ukraine war and express criticism of Russia's conduct of the war.

According to CNN, this also includes Yuri Kotenok, a Russian military blogger, who on May 12, 2022 commented on the hostilities on the Severskyi Donets River in eastern Ukraine.

At least 70 Russian tanks and vehicles were said to have been destroyed as Russia attempted to cross the river, satellite imagery is said to show.

Hundreds of Russian soldiers are said to have died.

Ukraine war: Russian bloggers criticize Russia's losses on Telegram

Kotenok has around 300,000 subscribers on Telegram.

Responding to user comments, Kotenok said his job was "to give a correct assessment, to say good about good and bad about bad, but to tell the TRUTH."

According to CNN, Kotenok even made fun of the Russian television coverage.

"If you want to sit in a warm bath and gently and soothingly 'fight', then you're welcome on TV.

There you will find a lot of things to please your ears and eyes,” he said.

“In war it happens that we suffer casualties.

Be aware of that and... shut up if you don't have anything significant to say," Kotenok added.

Ukraine war: Russian military bloggers have criticized the warfare on Telegram, according to CNN.

(symbol image) © afp

According to CNN, some other well-known accounts picked up the military blogger's reports and blamed individual generals for Russia's losses.

CNN concludes that the comments would go against the Russian state's monopoly on reporting.

Russia: Critical military expert on talk show part of Kremlin's propaganda strategy?

Earlier, the retired Russian colonel Mikhail Chodarjonok spoke on a talk show on Russian state television about the losses and setbacks of the Russian army.

According to the Kremlin, the "special operation", as the Ukraine war can only be called, is going according to plan.

According to reports from Russia, however, Vladimir Putin is said to have initiated a wave of purges in the military and dismissed some high-ranking military officers.

It is unclear whether the public criticism that has now been voiced is part of the Russian strategy of looking for scapegoats, justifying losses or introducing a new strategy in the Ukraine war.

As the Tagesschau reports, the appearance of the military expert in the Russian TV show can also be propaganda in the interests of Moscow and Vladimir Putin,

to initiate further troop mobilizations for the Ukraine war.

Critical remarks are punished with long prison sentences in Russia.

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