Russia's offensive in the Ukraine war has largely stagnated for months.
A commentator on Russian state TV now expressed a gloomy forecast.
Moscow – Russian progress in the Ukraine war has slowed down significantly in recent months.
The most recent example of this is the bitter fighting for the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.
For months, Russian soldiers and mercenaries from the Wagner Group have been attacking the city, which has meanwhile been largely destroyed - without success so far.
The capture of Bakhmut would be only the second notable success of Russian forces since the capture of Lysychansk last summer.
In January, the invaders were able to capture the small town of Soledar north of Bakhmut.
The lack of success raises the question of how long the Ukraine war could continue at this rate?
A question that has now also reached Russian state TV.
In the otherwise propaganda-soaked program, a political commentator came to an assessment that the Kremlin elite is unlikely to like at all.
Political scientist Sergey Mikheyev stated that the war would probably last so long that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not see it end.
Ukraine war: gloomy prognosis on Russian state TV - Putin will not see the end of the war
Mikheyev commented on the current course of the war on the program of Putin's chief propagandist Vladimir Solojov.
Referring to the Russian forces' lack of progress on the battlefield, the political scientist told the assembled audience in the TV studio: "If we continue like this and at this rate, you and I will not live long enough to see successes."
"Let's be honest with ourselves. Our leadership will not live long enough for that either," added Mikheyev.
"If we continue at this rate, it will take decades." US journalist Julia Davis posted a video of the performance with English subtitles on Twitter.
Davis runs the
Russia Media Monitor
channel and regularly reports on Russian TV shows.
Darkness filled Vladimir Solovyov's studio, as one state TV pundit argued that at the rate Russia's invasion is proceeding, neither the panelists nor their Kremlin leadership will live long enough to see any successes.
https://t.co/ON6XNCcFfd
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 6, 2023
War between Russia and Ukraine could last for decades – “The end is not in sight”
Mikheyev's assessment of the possible duration of the war is no longer an isolated opinion in Russia.
Sergei Markov, a former adviser to President Putin, recently shared his assessment of the war via Telegram.
The Russian invasion is taking “longer than planned” and “there is no end in sight,” wrote Markov.
The 64-year-old added that the war could go on for over two decades.
Later in the program, Mikheyev also made a suggestion on how to shorten the duration of the war.
"There are simple things that we could solve immediately, like blocking the ability of Western politicians to travel to Ukraine." These would represent important support for Kiev, the Ukrainian army and President Zelenskyy.
Most recently, US President Joe Biden and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid a visit to the Ukrainian capital.
Putin's circle of power in the Kremlin - the confidants of the Russian President
Putin's circle of power in the Kremlin - the confidants of the Russian President
TV propagandists on Ukraine war: Russia's position "significantly deteriorated"
From a Russian point of view, the TV round of talks also came to a sobering conclusion for the coming months during the war.
“Our position has deteriorated significantly.
Either we move forward and stop imitating sovereignty and really achieve success, or we retreat with a massive failure," Mikheyev said, referring to the possibilities of the Russian army.
Soloyov then replied: "No one will give us the opportunity to retreat.
They will continue to tear us apart and destroy us to the end."
(fd)