The Russian military bloggers are boiling with anger again. The reason for their grudge against the Kremlin is the claim that it killed hundreds of soldiers in a retaliatory attack on Ukraine.
As the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Sunday, the Russian army had launched attacks on two barracks in Kramatorsk in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine in “retaliation” for the deaths of 89 soldiers on New Year’s Eve. “More than 600 Ukrainian soldiers” were killed.
Putin’s retaliation is a lie
On New Year’s Eve, Ukraine attacked a Russian army improvised base in Makiivka using US-supplied Himar missile launchers. In an unusual move, Moscow subsequently acknowledged the deaths of 89 soldiers. Observers expect an even higher number of victims.
However, Putin’s retaliation is a lie. Pure propaganda, as the Finnish journalist Antti Kuronen revealed. He is on the spot where Putin’s troops are said to have landed this mega-attack. But no sign of destruction. “There’s not even an ambulance here,” he wrote on Twitter. An Italian journalist was also present. He too could not find any destroyed buildings or dead people. The missile apparently missed the target.
Putin has made a fool of himself
The Russian military bloggers are therefore very angry with Russian President Vladimir Putin (70) and the Kremlin, reports the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). It is not clear who would have said that 600 Ukrainian soldiers died at once when in fact the building was not even hit, writes the Russian Telegram channel “Military Information”. Putin made a fool of himself.
What infuriates bloggers in particular: This isn’t the first time the Kremlin has spread news of alleged retaliatory attacks. According to the military bloggers, the Russian Ministry of Defense often makes false claims. And when Ukraine reports a success.
Strategy doesn’t work
According to the ISW, the Russian Ministry of Defense has been pursuing the revenge strategy since October 2022. The Kremlin allegedly retaliated for Ukrainian attacks on the Kerch Strait bridge in the Black Sea and other Russian infrastructure.
The Russian government would use retaliation to appease pro-war lawyers and make its own military look better. But the strategy doesn’t work, especially when the alleged retaliatory attacks turn out to be pure fake news. As a result, the Russians are even more angry with Putin and the military. (dzc)