Main thing is to get back to reality

1. The key military objective of the Russians for the summer campaign is to prevent a serious loss of territory. Not losing territory will be considered a victory. In fact, the main internal Russian narrative of the past 15 months - 'the main thing is not to get worse' - is now being transferred to all military operations.

2. In recent days, the Russians have changed their main military spokesperson: instead of Konashenkov, Shoigu personally announces reports from the front. He is openly lying, but it doesn't matter: among the lies, they are starting to centrally saturate the information space with truthful videos, unfortunately, of inevitable losses on our side. In fact, the Russians have now begun to use the tactic of a thousand victories, when their smallest achievements will be replicated as victories like Stalingrad or the capture of Berlin. They used this tactic after leaving Kherson, when every day they talked about advancing 50 meters and capturing cowsheds in long-dead villages. But now the narratives will shift.

“The Russians have now begun to use the tactic of a thousand victories, where their smallest achievements will be replicated as victories like Stalingrad or the capture of Berlin.”

3. The main narrative of this information campaign is “We (Russians) easily destroy Western equipment. And this is due to the great skill of Russians and, not least, because Ukrainians have not learned how to manage it effectively.” And this narrative is being expanded for four audiences: Russian, Ukrainian, Western, and anti-American.

“For many, it will be painful to realize that there is no easy walk to Crimea and there cannot be. But returning to reality and losing inflated expectations is the basis for a calm and logical view.”

4. As for the Ukrainian audience, which is terribly fond of betrayal and, unfortunately, is overheated by the myths about 'distributing sunbeds in Yalta,' these blows can be quite painful, especially amid the campaign already launched by the Russians that they are much bigger and more resilient. Therefore, in my opinion, it is very important to understand now that the Russian information campaign has already begun and try to simply look at life realistically. Yes, it will be painful for many people to realize that there is no easy way to Crimea and there cannot be. But returning to reality and losing inflated expectations is the basis for a calm and logical view of all Russian information provocations.

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About the author: Vadym Denysenko, political scientist.

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