Russian media challenges Kremlin narrative amid Kursk conflict
Some Russians likely attempted to adjust their receivers when they saw propagandists speaking unfavourably about Putin's government on their television screens. Ukraine's actions in Kursk have angered journalists and commentators, known as "Putin's media soldiers". They no longer believe the Russian authorities "on their word".
The defiant behaviour of these propaganda station journalists was compiled by Vyacheslav Zarutski, a Russian YouTuber living in Poland.
I don't know how they were allowed to say such things, but now they do it absolutely on all television channels and on the radio," he admitted.
One of the Russian propagandists admitted that journalists continuously lie about the weakness of the Ukrainian army. They also lie that "a new government will appear in some country and cut off aid to Ukraine" or "Ukrainian soldiers will simply be finished, and we will win". However, Russians know what is happening on the front, and the situation is not as optimistic.
On another television channel, the host admitted that many Russians want everything to return to the old state.
Our authorities received a colossal credit of trust this spring. But a very big mistake was thinking that this credit is inexhaustible. If this credit of trust from people is squandered as it has been in the last two months, I fear that we are facing significant political troubles," he said.
He also added that Russian political elites dream of everything being like it was before 21 February 2022.
They want to restore the moment when the Luhansk and Donetsk republics were recognised as independent states. Too many of them want to get everything back: a castle in France, a residence in London, and a penthouse in New York, restore the elegant villa in Dubai. Now they can't go there, right?" asked the host provocatively.
He believes that Ukrainians know everything about Russians and their way of operating. Meanwhile, he himself no longer believes in assurances that everything will be fine.
Another host on the same television station doubts all of Russia's actions. He sees how the authorities promised that after three days, Ukrainian troops would disappear from the Kursk region. However, this did not happen.
About 110,000 people found themselves in a situation where they have to leave their homes. I'm not counting those who are not yet in this category and those who have already left their homes in the Belgorod region. We finally have a federal state of emergency. To be honest, I do not believe in the concept of "everything is fine". I understand the logic of this concept; I can explain it. But I'm not sure if it is a working scheme. To be honest, I do not believe in it," he said.
Radio hosts are also beginning to doubt whether Russia can respond to Ukraine's actions.
We always say that soon we will use something that will make the enemy tremble. However, I have the impression that if we had that capability, we would have already used it. I just don't think we have it. Apparently, we don't have the tools to instil terror in the enemy," admitted the host.
On television, people started to question whether what is happening in Ukraine can be called a special military operation.
You can win a war because it is a strict concept, and it is conventionally described; there is military law, and everything is clear there. Some have won, and others have lost. But when you conduct a special military operation, you cannot have a victory or a defeat. The operation is ended by the command to end the operation," said the host.
He also added that "the enemy has been on Russian lands for two weeks, and the Russians themselves do not even know who is responsible for this state of affairs."
