Ukrainian forces challenge Russian dominance in Kursk conflict

According to Russian propaganda media, there are robberies and murders committed by "fanatics" in the occupied territories of Russia. However, when the first Western journalists reached the Ukrainian-occupied town of Sudzha, they heard: "Let Putin make an agreement with your Zelensky."

- The operation in the Kursk region generates a beneficial message from Kyiv's perspective that it is still possible to challenge the red lines drawn by the Kremlin freely, and Russia itself is not an invincible power. We see that the Russians cannot push back the Ukrainian forces. They were not prepared for this scenario. These are more cracks in the image of a superpower - says Dr Michał Marek, founder of the Center for Research on Contemporary Security Environment Foundation and an expert in counteracting disinformation.

However, there is no clear winner in the information sphere regarding the Kursk operation. We do not have the tools to judge who wins the information war or is more effective here. In my opinion, both sides mainly address people who already have established views on the war, cautions Dr Marek.

In recent days, Ukrainian media have published interviews with Russian prisoners from the Kursk region. Many are conscripts, stating they stood no chance against "professionals fighting on the front for two years." According to Russian propaganda media, "Ukrainian Nazis" and even allegedly "mercenaries from Poland" are fighting on the Ukrainian side.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian services showed recordings documenting how their soldiers distribute food to Russian seniors and unchained dogs abandoned by Russian residents of the Kursk region. "These recordings are staged. It is hard to refuse help if it is offered by a man armed from head to toe," the official website of the Kursk region administration states.

A popular Telegram service, "Russia Now" (1.7 million readers), posted an interview with a man named Ivan. He recounted walking for 60 kilometres and sneaking between checkpoints to reach his mother. The woman lived in Sudzha (seized by Ukraine) but did not leave her home, not wanting to abandon her cats.

Dr Marek assesses that the message about a significant number of surrendering Russian soldiers guarding the border will not reach average Russians. In his opinion, the Ukrainian side also tries to exaggerate the poor condition of the Russian army. Both sides are continuously fighting in the information field.

However, the Russian side uses disinformation methods and stimulates extremely negative emotions among its audiences toward certain groups or nations. Russia has limited capabilities to reach the masses of citizens of Western countries with its narrative. According to it, the effects of the Ukrainian operation are minimal and insignificant. The Russian propaganda apparatus promotes messages as a form of pressure on the West to stop Ukrainians from continuing the operation. Is the success of such actions possible? Doubtful.

So far, the Ukrainian side has managed to effectively challenge the initial Russian messages about lootings and alleged crimes committed in the territories occupied by Ukrainian forces. The Russians themselves do not make such claims. - Let Putin make an agreement with your Zelensky - said 57-year-old Russian woman Marina. She addressed Ukrainian soldiers protecting "The Washington Post" journalists.

- We really want some kind of agreement, guys. You’ve come to us, thank you, you’re treating us very well. But you must understand, we want to return to our children, to go home, do you understand? We want things to be resolved in a good way - added the woman. The statement of a resident of Sudzha occupied by Ukrainian troops is posted by the American newspaper.

Other Russians said they did not know anyone who had died during the operation. Still, they would like their town to return under Russian control. - We have a request: Photograph our Sudzha and send it to Putin - said 65-year-old Tamara. - Show this to our president, let him see - she added (without explaining how Putin should react).

Although Russian civilians did not claim Ukrainian troops mistreated them, they were not spared the humiliations of war. Since 6 August, they have been sleeping in a basement adapted as a shelter.