The Russian information space, oriented towards supporting the war, demonstrates growing concern over the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Proponents increasingly acknowledge that the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counterattacks and strikes on rear facilities significantly complicate Russia's ability to conduct offensive operations in 2026.
This is stated in analytical materials from the Institute for the Study of War. According to their assessments, Russian ultranationalist commentators are increasingly speaking openly about the problems on the front and the strategic risks for the Kremlin.
In particular, one of the Russian propagandists admitted that the economic potential of Western countries significantly exceeds Russia's capabilities, and this is already evident on the battlefield. We are talking about massive strikes by Ukrainian drones on Russian territory, which are increasingly being carried out by hundreds of drones simultaneously.
According to him, the scale of such attacks will only grow, while the Russian side is unable to produce a sufficient number of interceptor missiles for effective countermeasures. In this context, there are even statements in Russian circles about the inevitability of defeat and the need to end the war.
At the same time, some propagandists continue to insist on the need for a large-scale offensive, in particular with a focus on capturing Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. However, it is acknowledged that the Russian leadership is not currently ready to implement such a scenario.
Against this background, ISW draws attention to Ukraine's successful attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, particularly in the Baltic Sea, which has a tangible economic effect for the Russian Federation.
An additional factor of pressure on the Russian army is the situation directly at the front. Russian military bloggers admit that the occupiers will not be able to turn the tide of hostilities in the near future, and Ukrainian counterattacks have already undermined their offensive capabilities in the future.
There are also growing logistical and communications challenges. Russian forces are facing difficulties due to the blocking of satellite services, as well as a lack of modern electronic warfare equipment.
As a result, even supporters of the war in the Russian information field are increasingly questioning the ability of the Russian army to achieve a breakthrough or maintain its current positions solely at the expense of human resources.
