Click Here The veterans who worry Putin
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Sep 5, 2025 Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, delves into the unsettling effects of returning soldiers from Ukraine on Putin's regime. She discusses how these veterans challenge the Kremlin’s narrative, despite facing censorship and fear. The conversation highlights their growing criticisms shared on social media, suggesting a potential threat to government stability. Kateryna also sheds light on the Kremlin's attempts to co-opt veterans through propaganda, revealing the tension between returning soldiers and state control.
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Social Media Upsets Kremlin Control
- Yevgeny Prigozhin used social media to publicly pressure and blackmail the Kremlin over military decisions.
- That flexibility forced Moscow onto the defensive and exposed cracks in its information control.
Kremlin’s Cognitive Warfare Playbook
- The Kremlin applies Soviet-era 'reflexive control' or what Kateryna calls cognitive warfare to shape perceptions before people form opinions.
- This uses algorithms, conspiracy theories, and censorship to erode trust and preempt dissent.
Frontline Reporting Under Tight Control
- The Kremlin tightens media access to the front to prevent independent reporting of failures and atrocities.
- Restricting bloggers and telegram channels keeps battlefield realities from undermining official narratives.