leaves its armored vehicles behind and criticism of Putin grows

The leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has assured that the next three months will be “critical” in determining the outcome of the war. “Ahead there are 90 days that will determine more than 30 years of Ukraine’s independence. 90 days that more than all other years will determine the existence of the EU. Winter will determine our future,” the president said at a conference in kyiv this weekend.

“The Russian army these days is showing the best it can do: showing its back,” Zelensky added.

In these events, social networks have played a revealing role during the war. The videos show the obvious defeat of the Russians in the territories of Kharkov, Izium or Balakliya, among others. In these publications you can see the abandonment of armored vehicles, tanks and ammunition that they left while fleeing.

In addition, Russia’s abandonment of its troops has not only been military, but also when it comes to supplying food. Some Russian analysts have criticized the Kremlin for letting this happen, pointing out that many of your soldiers are hungry.

Ukrainian counteroffensive

In recent days, Ukrainian forces have retaken the key railway hub of Kupiansk, which supplied the Russian troops. They have also recaptured Izium, Russia’s main base in Kharkov province.

Also, the head of the Ukrainian forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, stated this Sunday that Ukraine had regained control of some 3,000 square kilometers of territory since the beginning of September. “In the direction of Kharkiv, we began to move not only to the south and east, but also to the north. There are 50 km to reach the border with Russia”, he explained.

[Las tropas ucranianas, a menos de 50 kilómetros de la frontera con Rusia: “Los ocupantes huyen”]

Last Saturday night, Zelensky reported that the figure was 2,000 square kilometers. The Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine has recaptured more territory in five days than Russia had taken since April.

The Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, assured on Saturday that the Ukrainian attack could hit the Russians “like an avalanche” and predicted rapid progress would be made. “A line of defense will tremble and fall,” he asserted.

Criticism of Putin

For the ‘hawks’ and some Russian analysts, Russia’s withdrawal has confirmed the suspicion they have been carrying in recent days. The hypothesis as to whether top Kremlin officials were more concerned with maintaining a normal atmosphere in their own country than with supplying the necessary equipment and personnel to wage war has become certain. According to some critics of the regime, the invading troops did not have enough night vision goggles, bulletproof vests, first aid kits or drones.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have taken the opportunity to recapture Izium and continue their rapid advance to the northeast. This Kyiv strategy has provoked a dramatic new turn for Russia in the war.

For the time being, there are few signs that the ‘hawks’ are turning on Putin over the military failure in the Ukraine counter-offensive, but some of them have stepped up criticism of the Russian elite. This is a latent sign of discontent in the country. For its part, the Kremlin has tried to minimize criticism. The Defense Ministry has described the withdrawal as a decision to “regroup” its troops.

Although the Kremlin controls his country’s television channels and has blocked access to Instagram and Facebook, Telegram remains freely accessible and is full of posts and videos from opponents of the invasion. This is a bump in the road for Putin when it comes to set up your narrative about the war.