"Kremlin officials and state media propagandists are extensively discussing the reasons for the Russian defeat in Kharkiv Oblast, a marked change from their previous pattern of reporting on exaggerated or fabricated Russian successes with limited detail," the ISW said in its latest analysis of the war in Ukraine.
It added that the Kremlin "never admitted that Russia was defeated around Kyiv or, later, at Snake Island, framing the retreat from Kyiv as a decision to prioritize the 'liberation' of Donbas and the withdrawal from Snake Island as a 'gesture of goodwill.'"
According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Russian defence ministry "originally offered a similar explanation for the Russian failure in Kharkiv," claiming that Russian forces were withdrawing troops from the Kharkiv region to regroup, "but this false narrative faced quick and loud criticism online."
The Kremlin’s "acknowledgment of the defeat is part of an effort to mitigate and deflect criticism for such a devastating failure away from Russian President Vladimir Putin and onto the Russian Ministry of Defense and the uniformed military command," the ISW said.
Kremlin 'working to clear Putin of any responsibility for the defeat'
It added: "Kremlin sources are now working to clear Putin of any responsibility for the defeat, instead blaming the loss of almost all of occupied Kharkiv Oblast on underinformed military advisors within Putin’s circle."
Moscow’s defeat in the Kharkiv region has caused panic among Russians in occupied Ukrainian territories, servicemen and military bloggers, according to the US think tank.
The Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence was cited as saying that Russian authorities in Crimea were urging their families to flee to Russia, while employees of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) were reportedly selling their homes on the peninsula and urgently evacuating their families due to Ukrainian counter-offensives.
Wednesday is day 203 of Russia's war on Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, understandingwar.org