You know things are bad when the economist starts writing stuff like this:

Official Ukrainian narratives that present a rosy picture are not helping to calm nerves. “[President Volodymyr] Zelensky is being kept in a warm bath,” complains Mr Yaroslavsky. “We think the president should tune into the situation on the ground and not ape Putin, a man whose life revolves around the papers his aides bring him.” A government official, who asked to remain anonymous, suggests that Mr Zelensky had already sensed he might not be receiving the full truth. “That’s what he yells at his generals, at least.”

https://archive.ph/9iaKe

  • T34_69 [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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    6 months ago

    Putin, a man whose life revolves around the papers his aides bring him

    They’re still running this story? Is there any truth to it? Seems like Russia’s strategic success should indicate otherwise.

    Edit: I mean the implication that Putin surrounds himself with yes-men who conceal certain facts for their own self-preservation

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆OP
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      6 months ago

      It’s pretty clear that there is no substance to this. If Putin was surrounded by sycophants then Russia would’ve collapsed the way the west was hoping it would a long time ago.

  • supafuzz [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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    6 months ago

    it’s not even a full-on attack yet, is it? this is still the diversionary poking stage to draw troops away from the donbass front and make some opportunities for lucky breaks along a wider front

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆OP
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      6 months ago

      Yeah, it’s basically a recon in force, and it turned out that there are no defences there.