Successive Losses Intensify Attacks vs Putin Within Russia

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its latest assessment that Russia's loss of Donetsk Oblast's Lyman, combined with the Kremlin’s failure to conduct partial mobilization effectively is "fundamentally changing the Russian information space."

Photo Insert: Both Ukrainian soldiers and civilians posing with destroyed Russian military equipment becoming a familiar sight is a testament to Putin hugely having underestimated the tenacity of the nation he sought to conquer.

ISW experts stress that the Kremlin-sponsored media and Russian military bloggers are criticizing the bureaucratic failures of the partial mobilization and attributing the defeat around Lyman and Kharkiv Oblast to Russian military failures to properly supply and reinforce Russian forces in northern Donbas.

On the other hand, Russian generals blame Russian President Vladimir Putin for micromanaging the war and deciding on operational actions without understanding the situation in the frontlines.

Pope Francis appeals to Putin to stop ‘spiral of violence and death.’ Pope Francis called for an immediate ceasefire and a diplomatic solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine “in the name of God and of the sense of humanity that dwells in every heart,” he said on Twitter on Oct. 2.

The Pope condemned the “grave situation” that has manifested recently, which is “contrary to the principles of international law,” and warned of the “uncontrollable and catastrophic (international) consequences” of nuclear escalation.

Public criticism to increase in Russia if Ukraine liberates more territory. The UK Defense Ministry said that Russian forces likely experienced heavy casualties when they withdrew from the town of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast on Oct. 1.

The ministry said that the withdrawal led to "a further wave of public criticism of Russia’s military leadership by senior officials," and further loss of its captured territory will "almost certainly" lead to intensified criticism, Kyiv Independent reported.

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