Summary of "400 000 погибших солдат — военкоры шокированы. Герасимов окончательно заврался. Захваты сел рисуют"

Analysis of Russian Military Misinformation in the Ukraine War

The video by Yan Matveyev critically examines the widespread misinformation and fabricated reports propagated by the Russian military leadership and the Kremlin regarding the ongoing war with Ukraine. It reveals how Russian generals and officials distort the reality of the conflict to mislead both their command and the public.

False Claims of Territorial Control

Russian generals, particularly Gerasimov and Belousov, frequently claim control over cities and villages such as Kupyansk and Kurilovka. However, these locations often remain contested or under Ukrainian control. The Russian military relies on symbolic acts—like raising flags via drones or small units—as “proof” of capture. This practice, termed “seizure on credit,” results in:

Distorted operational maps that misrepresent the true situation.
Misguided command decisions based on inaccurate information.
Increased danger to Russian soldiers sent to capture areas already declared taken on paper.

Despite official declarations of territorial gains, fighting and Ukrainian resistance continue unabated. Videos show Ukrainian forces actively reclaiming or holding key locations.

Propaganda and Reporting Practices

Russian military correspondents and bloggers acknowledge ongoing falsehoods in official reports. Although the Ministry of Defense has improved the quality of its propaganda by producing polished videos exaggerating victories, these do not reliably confirm actual control of territory.

Manipulation of Personnel and Equipment Losses

The Kremlin also manipulates data regarding personnel and equipment losses:

Official figures indicate over 1.3 million contract soldiers recruited in recent years.
Estimates suggest Russian military deaths could be around 400,000, with total losses possibly reaching one million.
Millions are wounded, with disability claims exceeding 2 million.

Despite these staggering losses, Russian leadership:

Denies or downplays casualties.
Exaggerates Ukrainian losses with implausible figures (e.g., claiming destruction of more Ukrainian tanks and aircraft than Ukraine possesses).

Contradictions and Strategic Miscalculations

Matveyev highlights contradictions in Russian claims:

Russian officials assert Ukrainian forces are severely depleted.
Yet, Ukrainian forces continue sustained resistance and counterattacks.

Russian generals reportedly underestimate the real situation, basing plans on inflated successes and ignoring battlefield realities. Strategic lies extend to proclamations about future offensives and territorial ambitions, such as capturing large cities like Zaporizhzhia, which remain unrealistic given the current military stalemate.

Conclusion: The Unsustainable Kremlin Narrative

The video concludes that the Kremlin’s parallel reality—built on lies and self-deception—is unsustainable and increasingly harmful to Russian military effectiveness and morale. The continuous cycle of false reporting, inflated victories, and ignored losses:

Traps the Russian army in a deteriorating situation.
Shows no willingness from top leadership to negotiate or reassess.
Prolongs the war at great human cost, as leadership clings to propaganda rather than facing harsh realities on the ground.

Presenter: - Yan Matveyev (main presenter and analyst)