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As native Russian speaker (living in the US for over two decades) and very closely following events, I call BS on this article. There are no debates on Russian

As native Russian speaker (living in the US for over two decades) and very closely following events, I call BS on this article. There are no debates on Russian TV or mass media. All you get are two very carefully scripted conversations from two sides. On one side are war thirsty radicals who want RU to use max capabilities and start mobilization and another side are people who are for war, but don't call for mobilization. Radicals are loudest voice right now and present an immense danger to current regime (a lot of people don't realize that), because they call for mobilization and because this crowd is already pointing fingers at Putin and calling for his head. Apparatus is very very hesitant to start mobilization, because they don't know how population will react. To counter voices of radicals, apparatus trying to give an illusion of that there is "another" side that is very hesitant to start mobilization. All this posturing only means that apparatus doesn't know if they should or should not start mass mobilization. Also, there is deafening silence on RU TV & mass media about almost a complete collapse of RU army in the North, at the same time population is getting almost a real time feed on how this failure is unfolding from Telegram and other back channels and that information is being given to them by radicals.

eternalban 4y ago
Hah. Was just now reading about Lenin and Bolsheviks being worried about a post-revolutionary leader emerging from Red Army, as it had happened with Napoleon and the French Revolution. Mobilization is definitely a double-edged sword. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59679063-the-shortest-history-of-the-soviet-union https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59679063-the-shortest-hi...
dekhn 4y ago
Do you have any perceptions on what random, average Russians think? for example, presumably while they see a lot of positive news on RU television, are they aware of the level of propaganda and misleading news? If they are, what other sources do they consume (telegram?)? Is there any path to Russia downsizing the invasion/starting to negotiate with Ukraine over the occupied areas? Are russians worried about Ukraine entering Russian territory? Attacking moscow (not directly, but through special troops)? To what extent has the economic situation made life less (or more?) comfortable for citizens?
sidibe 4y ago
The clip everyone is talking about shows Nadezhdin is not falling into either of those camps. He wants the Russians to give up. This is not too shocking because he is kind of the Colmes of Hannity and Colmes, there for the main host to make look like a fool. What's surprising is a couple of the others agree with him and the counterargument being so weak on TV, usually they are ready to pounce on him with some nice sounding jingoism. I think some of the less committed propagandists are starting to worry about their legacy

eternalban 4y ago

Hah. Was just now reading about Lenin and Bolsheviks being worried about a post-revolutionary leader emerging from Red Army, as it had happened with Napoleon and the French Revolution. Mobilization is definitely a double-edged sword. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59679063-the-shortest-history-of-the-soviet-union https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59679063-the-shortest-hi...

dekhn 4y ago

Do you have any perceptions on what random, average Russians think? for example, presumably while they see a lot of positive news on RU television, are they aware of the level of propaganda and misleading news? If they are, what other sources do they consume (telegram?)? Is there any path to Russia downsizing the invasion/starting to negotiate with Ukraine over the occupied areas? Are russians worried about Ukraine entering Russian territory? Attacking moscow (not directly, but through special troops)? To what extent has the economic situation made life less (or more?) comfortable for citizens?

sidibe 4y ago

The clip everyone is talking about shows Nadezhdin is not falling into either of those camps. He wants the Russians to give up. This is not too shocking because he is kind of the Colmes of Hannity and Colmes, there for the main host to make look like a fool. What's surprising is a couple of the others agree with him and the counterargument being so weak on TV, usually they are ready to pounce on him with some nice sounding jingoism. I think some of the less committed propagandists are starting to worry about their legacy