By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Despite recent statements from Russian military leadership claiming battlefield gains, these assertions lack corroboration from Ukrainian sources and appear to be part of a broader propaganda effort. Russian General Valery Gerasimov’s claims of encircling Stepnohirsk and advancing in the Dnipropetrovsk region, along with reports on Kostiantynivka, Sieviersk, and Red Lyman, are all contested by Ukraine. These unverified reports are intended to portray a favorable narrative of the war for Moscow. Simultaneously, peace plan discussions continue, but negotiations are hampered by Ukraine’s firm stance against any territorial concessions, particularly in the Donbas region.
Read the original article here
Russia’s top general again fabricates supposed “successes” on the front, and frankly, it’s not surprising anymore, is it? We’ve seen it time and again. The pattern is pretty clear: inflate victories, downplay losses, and paint a rosy picture of a war that’s anything but. It’s almost comical, this persistent need to create a narrative that bears so little resemblance to reality.
The core of the issue, as it seems, boils down to the concept of “Vranyo,” which is the Russian word for a lie. Some claim that it carries a special connotation of lies everyone knows are lies, but native speakers contest this. Regardless of the nuance, it represents the heart of the disinformation. It is a carefully curated reality, built on exaggeration, distortion, and outright fabrication. It’s a fundamental part of the strategy. You’ve got to understand this constant misrepresentation of what’s happening on the ground. Think about the resources spent, the manpower, the destruction. For what? To capture a town, maybe? And then totally destroy it in the process, making it essentially useless.
And that’s where the real absurdity of the situation lies. These manufactured successes don’t change the strategic reality. They might provide a fleeting moment of propaganda fuel, but the bigger picture remains. They are words spoken in response to reality that often ignore truth. The constant stream of inflated claims about territorial gains, the downplaying of casualties, the attempts to rewrite the narrative – it’s all part of the game.
The analogy between this and political tactics elsewhere becomes quite interesting, and that is to say, MAGA is described as the pinnacle of Russian propaganda efforts. It seems to have had a similar impact in that it has used lies to further its agenda. This is where it’s difficult to ignore the bigger picture – that the lies that are told by one party are somehow influencing the other.
The focus on “Vranyo” is apt. It gets to the core of the problem – the constant barrage of lies. It makes it easier to see how Russia attempts to control the flow of information, which is a key component of their strategy. It becomes clear why the truth is often a casualty of war, and why it’s so important to have reliable sources of information that don’t parrot the propaganda. This constant misrepresentation is an indicator of the authoritarian nature of the state, where the truth is a disposable commodity.
Take the example of Gerasimov, claiming control over Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. Such claims, when proven false, reveal the fabrications. It emphasizes the importance of independent verification. This is why we have to be critical of claims from both sides, even if one side is a known perpetrator of disinformation. It’s about looking at the facts, assessing the evidence, and not simply accepting whatever is presented.
It’s a reminder of the power of truth, and how crucial it is to stay informed. In a world awash with misinformation, critical thinking is more important than ever. The story of “Vranyo” on the front is a clear example of the dangers of accepting false narratives. It is one of Russia’s greatest weapons.