Perception of weakness can be lethal in a system built on the premise of strength. My latest @TheStudyofWar report with @KatStepanenko. The Kremlin hype of the "Victory Day" parades is a part of the Kremlin’s long-standing effort to conceal Putin’s and Russia's weaknesses. The Kremlin has been trying to portray Putin as an effective wartime leader and downplay Russian failures and Ukraine’s successes.
Putin has been an ineffective and cautious war leader, failing to achieve almost any of his stated military objectives three years into Russia’s war against Ukraine, despite an estimated 900,000 Russians killed and wounded. The Kremlin’s information efforts have helped preserve the regime and support in Russia for the war effort despite Russia's battlefield failings. These efforts are not always effective, however, and sometimes highlight the very weaknesses the Kremlin seeks to conceal. https://t.co/StOxgm3jC1