Russian Military Bloggers Condemn Tactical Blunders as Ukraine Gains Ground with NATO Weapons

Russian Failures in Ukraine: Growing Discontent Among Military Bloggers

The Ukraine war has wreaked havoc on both sides, but recent focus has shifted toward significant losses endured by Russian forces. Russian military bloggers, often regarded as staunch supporters of the Kremlin, have increasingly voiced their frustrations over what they describe as avoidable tactical mistakes by Vladimir Putin's commanders. This discontent surfaced particularly with the destruction of a Russian supply convoy near the border town of Sudja, highlighting the critical vulnerabilities that Ukrainian forces exploit.

Open-source intelligence platform Oryx has meticulously documented the material losses suffered by Russia from February 2022 to June 2024. According to their statistics, Russia has lost over 16,129 military vehicles, with more than 11,575 of them destroyed or severely damaged, and nearly 3,000 captured by Ukrainian forces. In addition, the figures for lost battle tanks are staggering, with 3,079 tanks counted lost, of which 2,067 were destroyed or damaged and another 856 either captured or missing.

Escalating Cross-Border Strikes with NATO Weapons

Ukraine's ability to carry out cross-border strikes has taken a new turn with recent approvals from NATO allies, including the United States. These approvals allow Kyiv to target Russian military infrastructure near the border using sophisticated Western weaponry. Recently, a Ukrainian attack using the Himars multiple rocket launcher system struck a Russian S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft defense system in the Belgorod region. This attack, confirmed by Ukrainian media and several military bloggers, marks a significant escalation, leveraging longer-range Western weapons to hit strategic military targets within Russia.

These cross-border strikes have not only inflicted tangible losses but have also exposed the flawed logistics and tactical planning within the Russian military. When Ukrainian forces, including the 53rd and 103rd brigades, launched an attack on a Russian convoy near Sudja using kamikaze drones, pro-Kremlin military bloggers were quick to critique the Russian army for continuing to employ long, vulnerable convoys. The attack resulted in heavy damage and the loss of up to twelve vehicles, further fueling criticism from Russian propagandists and bloggers about the need for revised military logistics and tactics.

Domestic Unrest: Families of Soldiers Demand Accountability

The internal unrest within Russia is not confined to online criticism. The members of the Way Home movement, composed mainly of the wives of mobilized soldiers, are vocally demanding that their spouses return home. The Russian Ministry of Justice's recent decision to blacklist the group as 'foreign agents' has done little to quell their calls for accountability. These women accuse the Kremlin of spreading misinformation about the war and have organized several protests demanding the return of their loved ones, even under the threat of government reprisal.

The voices of these women echo the broader dissatisfaction within Russia. Despite the Kremlin's efforts to label dissenting groups as foreign agents, the growing criticism elements its way into the public sphere, revealing the strategic and human costs of Putin's prolonged military campaign in Ukraine. Their plight underscores the severity of the conflict and the domestic consequences of Russia's war strategies.