Russian media avoid mentioning 2nd year of Ukraine invasion to downplay setbacks — ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared the information in its recent report.

On Monday, February 25, the Russian opposition news outlet Novosti reported that state-run Rossiya 1 and Pervyi Kanal, as well as NTV, did not mention the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

ISW analysts noted that on February 24, Russian government officials practically did not discuss the two-year anniversary of the invasion in order to avoid drawing attention to Russia's failures to achieve its strategic goals in Ukraine, including the seizure of the entire territory of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and to the significant personnel losses.

According to the institute's analysts, a recent public opinion poll in Russia showed that Russians' attitudes toward the war in Ukraine have not changed much in recent months, with most Russians being apathetic about the war and not supporting the second wave of mobilization.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian government officials likely refrained from highlighting the second anniversary of Russia‘s full-scale invasion in an effort to maintain public apathy toward the war that, in part, allows Russian officials to continue the war without significant public backlash," the report said.

According to the ISW, Putin is likely aware that the second wave of mobilization will not be widely popular among Russians. 

• On February 25, ISW analysts said that Russian officials are trying to shift responsibility for war crimes committed in Ukraine to mid- and lower-level commanders.