Ukrainian offensive shocks Russian media with talk of possible defeat

Gloomy moods in Russia. The Ukrainian offensive in Kursk Oblast surprised Moscow to such an extent that, for the first time since the beginning of the war, Russian state television openly speaks of a possible defeat.

On the broadcast of state television Rossia 1, Russian director Karen Shakhnazarov, known for his support of Vladimir Putin, made a shocking statement regarding the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk Oblast.

"We should stop saying that everything is fine," said the director at one point. A dead silence fell in the TV studio as Shakhnazarov continued. "Why do we deceive ourselves? We must assume that we can lose," he said to the host's astonishment.

"This is not defeatism, not spreading panic. Everyone must understand the price that our homeland must pay," continued Putin's propagandist.

Foreign media are discussing the surprising statement on Russian state television, especially since it was made by a director known for his support of Putin. "For the first time since the beginning of the war, there's open talk of Russia's defeat," commented, among others, Germany's Bild.

"This moment is of great significance. The invasion of Kursk Oblast by Ukrainian armed forces was a terrible wake-up call for many. We need to assess the situation, not lie and deceive people objectively," stated the pro-Russian Telegram channel "Two Majors."