Russians Shocked by Ukrainian Invasion

Summary

The video script discusses the Russian perspective on the war, highlighting how state media inadvertently reveals their mindset. It focuses on the slow progress of Russia in Kherson and the psychological impact on the Russian public. The speaker acknowledges Ukraine's effective sabotage, a shift from typical Russian media narratives. The script also touches on Russia's strategic challenges due to its vast territory and the internal conflicts over military deployment. It concludes by emphasizing the psychological victory for Ukraine and the dilemma it poses for Putin.

Takeaways

• 📢 The Russian media sometimes inadvertently reveals profound insights into their strategic thinking and mindset regarding the war.
• 🎯 The speaker acknowledges that the situation in Kherson is not progressing as Russia would like, indicating a shift in the 'center of gravity'.
• 🏆 The Ukrainian military's actions are having a psychological effect on Russia, destabilizing their perception of the war's progress.
• 🗣️ There is a notable change in Russian state media's tone, admitting the effectiveness of Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
• 🚩 The speaker suggests that Russia views the entirety of Ukraine, including Kherson and Crimea, as part of their territory.
• 🛡 Russia's vast size is a double-edged sword, making it difficult to defend against small, effective sabotage groups.
• 🔄 There is internal conflict within Russia about the use of conscripts and the political will to escalate the conflict.
• 💡 Some Russian propagandists are trying to spin the situation in Kherson as beneficial, suggesting it will allow Russia to take more land.
• 📈 The situation in Kherson has led to a shift in Western public opinion, with polls showing increased support for Ukraine.
• 🤔 The speaker expresses confusion and frustration within Russia about the lack of decisive action in Kherson.

Q & A

What is the main point the Russian State media is making about the war?

The main point is that the Russian State media is highlighting the strategic importance of military decisions and the psychological impact of the war on the Russian public, as well as the challenges faced by Russia in the conflict.

Why does the speaker believe Russia is taking so long to resolve the situation in Kherson?

The speaker suggests that Russia is not willing to divert resources from their advance toward other objectives, and they are also facing internal issues such as lack of political will and dissatisfaction among the military.

What does the speaker mean by 'psychological destabilization'?

The speaker refers to the impact of the war on the morale and mindset of the Russian people, causing them to question the effectiveness of the Russian military and the government's strategies.

What does the speaker think about the effectiveness of Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups?

The speaker acknowledges that these groups are doing very effective work, which is a significant shift from the usual Russian State media narrative that downplays Ukrainian resistance.

Why does the speaker believe Russia's size is a disadvantage in this conflict?

The speaker points out that Russia's vast territory makes it difficult to defend against attacks, such as drone strikes, and that the country's size contributes to logistical and defensive challenges.

What does the speaker imply about the political will of Russia to commit more troops?

The speaker implies that there is a lack of political will to send more troops, especially conscripts, due to public opposition and the fact that contract soldiers are not eager to be deployed to Kherson.

How does the speaker view the situation in Kherson as a 'Gambit' for Ukraine?

The speaker sees the situation as a strategic move by Ukraine that has shifted the focus and put pressure on Russia, creating a dilemma for Putin and potentially benefiting Ukraine in the peace process.

What is the speaker's opinion on the Russian propagandist's claim that the invasion in Kherson is beneficial?

The speaker dismisses the claim as ridiculous, arguing that it is a desperate attempt to spin a negative situation as a positive one.

What does the speaker think about the impact of Western weapons deliveries on the conflict?

The speaker views the deliveries of Western weapons as a psychological victory for Ukraine, contributing to a shift in public opinion and potentially altering the dynamics of the war.

How does the speaker describe the Russian mindset regarding the war?

The speaker describes the Russian mindset as one of confusion and frustration, with many Russians questioning why their military is not performing as expected and why setbacks are being allowed to happen.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Analyzing Russian Military Strategy

The speaker discusses the insights gained from Russian State media about the ongoing conflict. They highlight that while the media may not intend to reveal certain points, they inadvertently expose the Russian mindset. The conversation focuses on why Russia is taking a long time to achieve its military objectives, particularly in Kerch, and how this is affecting the Russian psyche. The speaker notes the strategic importance of military decisions, the psychological impact of the conflict on the Russian population, and the challenges Russia faces due to its vast size and the effectiveness of Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups. The speaker also acknowledges the effectiveness of Ukrainian actions and the Russian reluctance to commit more resources to the conflict, suggesting a lack of political will.

05:01

🚩 The Dilemma of Russian Military Engagement

In this paragraph, the speaker delves into the challenges Russia faces in deploying its military力量, including the political reluctance to use conscripts and the discontent among contract soldiers. The discussion also touches on the logistical difficulties of defending such a vast territory and the strategic use of drones by Ukraine. The speaker points out that despite the military setbacks, some Russian propagandists are trying to spin the situation positively, arguing that the conflict in Kerch is beneficial for Russia as it prevents a peace process that could lead to further territorial losses. The speaker emphasizes the psychological and informational victories Ukraine has achieved, which have put pressure on Putin and shifted public opinion both in Russia and internationally.

Keywords

💡Russian State media

Refers to the media outlets controlled or significantly influenced by the Russian government. In the video's context, it's used to highlight the contrast between the official narratives disseminated by these outlets and the realities on the ground, as well as to understand the Russian perspective on the war.

💡Strategic importance

This term refers to the value of a location or action in terms of its impact on the outcome of a conflict. The video discusses how the Russian military evaluates what has strategic importance, and how this evaluation can change as the conflict evolves.

💡Psychological effect

Describes the influence of information or events on the mindset or morale of individuals or groups. The script mentions how the situation in Ukraine is not only a military conflict but also has a psychological impact on the Russian public and military.

💡Center of gravity

A military concept referring to the source of a military force's strength and ability to fight. The video discusses how the conflict has shifted this 'center of gravity', affecting the balance of power and the focus of the war.

💡Liberate

In the context of the video, 'liberate' is used to describe the Russian goal of taking control of territories. It's mentioned in the script to highlight the discrepancy between the proclaimed objectives and the actual outcomes on the ground.

💡Unwillingness

Refers to the lack of desire or intention to take certain actions. The script uses this term to discuss the Russian military's choices, suggesting that they are choosing not to commit more forces to certain areas for strategic or political reasons.

💡Sabotage

The act of intentionally damaging or destroying equipment or infrastructure, often for military or political purposes. The video mentions Ukrainian sabotage groups operating effectively within Russian-claimed territory, which is a significant admission in Russian State media.

💡Drone Warfare

Involves the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for military operations. The script discusses how Russia's vast territory makes it difficult to defend against drone attacks, which are a significant factor in the conflict.

💡Anti-aircraft defense

Systems designed to counter threats from aircraft or missiles. The video script points out that Russia's inability to cover its entire territory with such defenses leaves it vulnerable to attacks from the air.

💡Mercenaries

Individuals who fight for a foreign country or group for pay, rather than for political or ideological reasons. The script mentions the use of mercenaries, such as those from Wagner Group, to fill gaps in military operations.

💡Propagandist

A person who spreads propaganda, or biased information, to promote a particular political cause or point of view. The video discusses a Russian propagandist's claim that the conflict is beneficial, which is used to illustrate the disconnect between propaganda and reality.

Highlights

Russian State media sometimes makes profound points that help understand their mindset on the war.

The video explains why Russia is taking so long to take care of certain areas and what the implications are.

Strategic importance is determined by top-ranking military commanders and can only be evaluated after total victory.

The Ukrainians have achieved a psychological effect that is destabilizing the situation.

The Russian army's inability to liberate territory is causing questions about their might.

The unwillingness of Russia to push back the Ukrainians suggests a strategic choice rather than an inability.

The Russian mindset views certain territories as inherently Russian, influencing their military actions.

Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups are acknowledged to be doing very effective work.

The large size of Russia makes it difficult to defend against small sabotage groups.

There is a lack of political will to send more troops to certain areas.

The use of conscripts and contract soldiers is causing internal issues within the Russian forces.

The situation in Crimea is being used as a justification for the invasion of Ukraine.

Some Russian propagandists are trying to spin the invasion as a positive development.

The invasion has yielded political, informational, and psychological results for Ukraine.

Western weapons deliveries are shifting public opinion and perceptions of the war.

The situation in Crimea is causing a dilemma for Putin and the Russian leadership.

The Russian mindset is struggling to understand and accept the current situation.

The video provides insight into the Russian perspective and their view on the war.

Transcripts

okay so sometimes the Russians on

Russian State media U make points that

are profound that help us understand how

they're thinking about the war maybe not

the points they thought that they were

making but they help us like get into

their mindset this is one of those

videos so special thanks to the Russian

media monitor they always do great work

bringing this forward here we're going

to pick up about halfway through and

this gentleman is

explaining how

why is Russia taking so long to take

care of these men in kers why how come

we're not seeing these results and but

he's getting he's helping us by helping

us see how Russians see and what they're

trying to project into Russian Minds

about how they should be seeing what's

going on in on the battlefield okay so

here we go uh but but first what has or

doesn't have strategic importance is

determined by top ranking military

commanders secondly until you achieve

total victory over the enemy you can't

say what does or doesn't have strategic

importance once you win on your own

conditions then you can evaluate it as

for now they've achieved an effect they

being ukrainians uh the ukrainians have

achieved an effect and he's lamenting

that they have achieved this effect and

it's not just a military effect in K and

I've been saying this for some weeks now

it's actually psychologically

destabilizing the situation it's it's

it's moving the center of gravity from

where it was where they're just being

ground down toward prros which is still

happening to something that's really

unnerving to the Russians in these times

information has political effect and a

military effect as well as a

psychological effect people can't

understand why we still can't Liberate

the territory of the K region after all

aren't you the mighty Russian army the

second army in the world I mean that's

how you've build yourself for a long

time and that's what we thought a couple

years ago but they're either unwilling

or unable to do it now the unwillingness

is I think more than unable because if

they shifted enough troops they could

push the ukrainians out of KK but

they're not willing to stop their

Advance toward something like prros and

really push the ukrainians back out

they're they're just not willing to do

that they they're willing to sacrifice

it

because as my friend Greg kery talked

about it it's just another Russian

territory forros and the dunet region is

in their minds as much a Russian

territory as uh KK is and so it's yes

it's an invasion on their historical

classic Lance he talks about this here

but it's it's more than that it's it's

all of it belongs to Russia in their

mindset okay I have an explanation but

I'm not an expert although I do have

life experience what is your

understanding of why that is I won't go

into the most sensitive issues and

problems but in particular we should

acknowledge that Ukrainian sabotage and

reconnaissance groups are doing very

effective work wow for him to admit that

on Russian State TV is a real

significant shift compared to what you

generally see you generally see oh it's

just a special military operation it's

not a war it'll be over no time going to

crush them we're just holding back we're

restraining ourselves if we just allowed

ourselves to take off the restraints

right you see that kind of thing just

blustering but they're actually doing

very effective work and we should wrap

our minds around that on the territory

of classic Russia okay let's stop there

of classic Russia that means it's the

Russian State as we knew it but Ukraine

is actually part of Russia too or at

least these four ablast they just

scooped up and Crimea are also part of

Russia and probably most of the rest of

Ukraine is also part of Russia as well

it's

just it's it's all ours is the way that

Russians tend to think about this on the

territory of classic Russia in the kurur

region I haven't seen these kinds of

actions of sabotage on the enemy's

territory perhaps I'm just unaware of

them maybe it's so well concealed that I

don't see it but the military

correspondents are aren't reporting it

meanwhile they're acting effectively

naturally it's difficult to destroy

small groups of sabator on a large

territory okay and that's a fair point

if you're so one of Russia's problems

especially think about this in relation

to drone Warfare one of Russia's

problems is it's so big it's hard to

defend right they say the bigger they

are the harder they fall that's true

like in in martial arts and Judo a big

guy is going to fall really hard okay

you don't have enough anti-aircraft

defense to put everywhere Mo much of it

is concentrated in Ukraine so they can

hit this oil refinery and that oil Depot

and this base and that other thing when

they have the drones to do it so that's

true they're so big that it becomes a

problem you could send an army of Tanks

or two divisions we probably have them

that's true they do have them but they

don't have the political will to send

them there and they are confounded by if

they use conscripts the people don't

like that they're using their sons in

order to do it and if they send soldiers

from that are contract soldiers from the

Smo the special military operation

they're getting paid less if they go

from Ukraine into KK and they don't like

that and so they're bringing back some

wagnerite uh mercenaries from Africa

right now in order to do it but it takes

time this isn't World War II not the

Great Patriotic War they would have to

wipe out everything that is all the

roads and the homes there's already a

lot of Destruction there some have gone

to the point of saying that this Gambit

somehow benefits us right I saw a

Russian propagandist say this just the

other day he said he said that this uh

Invasion into in K is actually good now

why would he argue that the invasion in

K is actually a good thing it because

it's actually ludicrous to say something

that ridiculous but he said it's good

because now it's going to prevent the

peace process which will allow us to

take more land so it's good that

ukrainians are on Sovereign Russian soil

um taking ground capturing hundreds of

prisoners because it'll stop the peace

process that's that's just a ridiculous

way of trying to apply this so he's

right to not let this guy twist what's

being said and say well that's that's a

positive thing so far this Gambit has

yielded results for zalinsky it really

has it shifted the center of gravity and

now we're all talking about KK and

thinking about KK and thinking about

what's Putin going to do and Putin is

thinking about what is Putin going to do

or how is he going to deal with this new

dilemma political informational and

psychological results that's right plus

the deliveries of Western weapons so you

even see this in the polling you see a

shift in the polling and the American

population saying like who's winning or

does Ukraine have a chance and it's

uptick because of the uh invasion in K

so it is a a psychological Victory it's

putting a dilemma on Putin it's an

informational Victory it's a military

Victory all these are positives now does

it counterbalance p no procross is

probably still In Harm's Way and is in

great danger of uh falling to the

Russians but he's absolutely right and

he's beside himself trying to figure out

why are we doing something why is this

happening why is this allowed to happen

Okay so that's pretty much and if I may

I will also want to uh mention the

telegram and he show so he shifts gears

and talks about something else but

listen he is truly trying to he he's

helping us understand the Russian

mindset and like how can we allow we're

great Russia how can we allow this kind

of thing to be happening to us what's

going on and that shows you that they

think one the game is theirs and they're

going to win and it's this is just

getting in the way

and how can why are we making this and

earlier before this he was saying

something like like who's responsible

why are why isn't somebody being fired

okay I didn't show that part it was a

little dry that that section but that's

the way that these guys are thinking

about it so they're beside themselves

wondering what's going on in KK and why

all right what do you think about this

because this little clip helps you

understand some insight into the Russian

mind tell me what you think in the

comments below thank you for your time

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the subscrib and thank you for being the

kind of person who cares about Ukraine