Ukrainian push in Kursk sowing panic as Russian media stays silent

Much of the information provided by Russian media and government representatives is likely not true. Such reports may be an element of information warfare by the Russian Federation. 

Since 6th August, the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region has been ongoing. As the "Super Express" portal reminds, the Ukrainians entered enemy territory without much trouble, capturing one town after another. And although the Kremlin assures that everything is under control, nothing confirms this. In response to Ukrainian activities, Vladimir Putin and his subordinates have adopted a tactic of ignoring the facts and pretending they are still in control of the situation.

The Russian media have been instructed not to devote too much attention to the Ukrainian offensive. The Atlantic Council think tank emphasises that the discomfort of this topic is evidenced by the latest edition of one of Russia's flagship television programmes, in which a deputy used blunt words to describe the tactics and approach of the Russian authorities.

Putin himself consistently pretends that everything is under control. He continues previously planned trips, intending to signal that nothing alarming is happening in the country and that there is no reason to panic.

The Ukrainian attack on the Kursk region was kept strictly secret, even from Ukraine's allies. Volodymyr Zelensky stated that if the world knew about the plans, many would believe that "it is unrealistic and that it is crossing the supposedly reddest of all the red lines that Russia has".

The Russian side does not believe such assurances. Kremlin representatives repeat that the West knew about the operation and actively participated in it. The newspaper "Izvestia", citing its sources in the Russian intelligence, stated that the United States, the United Kingdom, and Poland are behind the organisation of the attack.