The flight of the Russian occupiers from Kherson it undermined trust in Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and questioned his ability to deliver on his military promises.
This was commented by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its daily analysis of the situation in Ukraine.
Analysts point out that Alexander Dugin, called an ideologue of the “Russian world”, openly criticizes the Russian president.
“Declared that Putin is an ‘autocrat'”he must save his people himselfotherwise he will suffer the fate of the ‘Rain King’ (a hint that Putin will be killed, referring to Sir James Fraser’s The Golden Bough, which tells of the king being killed for not making rain at the height of the drought,” the ISW report said.
According to experts, Dugin at the same time reduced the role of other people.
“The “Russian peace” ideologue noted that Sergey Surovikin, who commanded the Russian occupation troops in Ukraine, was not responsible for the political decision to withdraw from Kherson. Dugin stressed that the autocrat cannot correct this departure from ideology with only public speeches, emphasizing that “the limit has been reached,” reported the Institute for the Study of War.
Additionally, analysts said, Dugin recalled the use of tactical nuclear weapons, calling it “the end,” and noted that the overdue changes in Russia’s military campaign it did not affect the course of the war.
ISW notes that Russian propagandists are increasingly urging the Kremlin and top military commanders to throw all their energy into the war against Ukraine.
One of them, Vladimir Solovyov, called for full mobilization, as well as the dismissal of incompetent officials after the Russians fled from Kherson.
“The direct criticism of Putin from the pro-military community is almost unprecedented and Dugin’s high-profile attack on Putin it could signal a shift among Russian nationalist ideologues“, emphasize the experts.
The Institute for the Study of War adds that, in turn, some military bloggers have suggested that the Kremlin has betrayed the city of Kherson by “selling” it, while others have suggested that the Kremlin is constantly giving up territory without asking the Russians.
The Russian military leadership is trying, largely without success unite the disparate parts, which consist of people with different skill levels and equipment, into a more cohesive fighting force. In particular, there is talk of integrating the armies of the self-proclaimed LDNR into the Russian Armed Forces.
Attempts to unite the forces of the LDPR, Russian contractors, volunteers, mobilized and mercenaries of Wagner, while creating an environment conducive to internal conflicts, the experts wrote.
“They also questioned the legitimacy of the alleged 87 percent support for Russia’s annexation of the Kherson region,” the analysts concluded.
Russian authorities are increasingly normalizing the public and possibly illegal deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.
The Russian military leadership has tried unsuccessfully to integrate the special forces into a more cohesive fighting force in Ukraine.
Russian sources say Ukrainian troops are continuing counter-offensive operations towards Kremena and Svatovo.
Ukrainian troops continue to liberate settlements on the right (western) bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region.
Offensive operations continue in the direction of Bakhmut, Avdeevka and Ugledar.
It is possible that the Russian authorities are trying to avoid paying promised salaries to military personnel.
Russian troops and the occupation authorities continue to endanger and put pressure on the residents.
