Russia’s chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov—already blamed for the loss of more than 200,000 soldiers—released a report on August 30 praising the so-called successes of Russia’s summer offensive in Ukraine.
He claimed Russian forces had destroyed key defense industries, advanced steadily, and “liberated” 3,500 square kilometers and 149 settlements, with new security zones in Sumy and Kharkiv.
Yet these inflated claims are contradicted by facts on the ground. Russia was pushed out of Sumy and failed to achieve significant gains in Donetsk. Even Russian military bloggers like Yuri Podolyaka criticized Gerasimov’s numbers, questioning who provided such false data.
Despite boasting of steady supplies, countless videos show Russian troops using donkeys, horses, and wheelbarrows due to broken logistics. Soldiers are often forced to buy their own gear, while reports of commanders executing troops for criminal or personal motives continue to emerge. Russian airstrikes have hit more civilian centers than military ones, further undercutting Gerasimov’s narrative.