Russian leadership struggles between denial and reality
Caught in a propagandistic whirlwind of semantic contradictions since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government is now desperately trying to protect its population from the impact of the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the Kursk region. The strategy of social control orchestrated by Vladimir Putin's regime has suffered heavy losses since the daring Ukrainian attack launched on August 6.
Behind the Kremlin's sybilline use of the term “special military operation”, Moscow is deploying an arsenal of measures designed to maintain a facade of normalcy. The media are under strict control, while Western imports are gradually being replaced by Asian products. This maneuver is designed to immerse the urban population into a sea of ignorance and propaganda, creating the impression that all is well in Putin's brave new world.
The Russian army, in need of troops, discreetly recruits in suburban and rural areas, targeting minorities in particular, while city-dwellers are encouraged to “think about something else”.
And yet, 500 kilometers from Moscow, the Ukrainian boomerang operation has shaken the official narrative. For a week now, the Russian government has been at a loss as to how to qualify the event, which was first presented as a “provocation” before being upgraded to “terrorism”.
The Kremlin is desperately trying to turn the Ukrainian operation into an internal affair, but beyond rhetorical questions, the wall of silence is beginning to crack.
The Ukrainian counterattack is disturbing not only the population, but also the military and officials who gravitate around power. The families of prisoners of war are worried, provincial governors are on edge and ministries are passing the buck, underlining a climate of uncertainty and flagrant inefficiency.
Ten days after the start of Ukrainian operations towards Kursk, the weakness of Russia's command structure is exposed, and Russia finds itself cornered, forced to choose between denial and reality, as cracks in its military and administrative apparatus begin to show, revealing the internal tensions of a regime desperately seeking to maintain its grip on a population increasingly aware of the contradictions of its power.
Photo : Yursk, Russia, August 18: civilians evacuated from the border zone with Ukraine are housed in temporary shelters in the center of Kursk.
(LpR -Source: le Grand Continent/Picture: picture alliance / Anadolu | Vladimir Aleksandrov)
