Russian VK groups associated with Kursk are expressing growing irritation towards the Russian authorities.
The folks in Kursk are upset with the Kremlin, expressing strong criticism online. A video of a Russian woman in military attire begs Ukrainians to march towards Moscow, urging politicians to "finally get their act together."
Despite the conflict reaching their villages, President Putin is traveling to Azerbaijan and Chechnya, acting like everything is normal in Russia. During his visits to Baku and Grozny, he fails to mention the Ukrainian offensive. No high-ranking official has visited the new war zone, the Duma is on summer break, and Peskov continues enjoying his vacation. State-controlled media try to soften the situation, portraying it as the "new normal." Everything is under control, everything is proceeding as planned - that's the message from the Kremlin.
However, people in border areas are far from under control. Two weeks into the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Kyiv controls numerous settlements in the region, and fighting persists. Official Kremlin figures report over 120,000 evacuations. Local authorities are under fire for fleeing first without considering the safety of the populace.
Evidence of a hurried exit is visible in photos and videos shared on Russian Telegram and VK groups by Ukrainian soldiers from Sudzha's military enlistment office. The images show confidential documents, such as personal records of conscripts, found by Ukrainian soldiers in the office. A video shows a Ukrainian journalist burning the abandoned files of Russian conscientious objectors - to aid "sensible Russians who don't want to die for Putin." On the VK group "Sudzha Online," many users express fury towards the office head, Yuri Voronov. He's called a "traitor" in comments, some speak of "shame," and demand severe punishment for the official.
"They lie and do nothing"
Under a post informing the relocated Sudzha district administration is now holding office hours in Kursk, many residents vent their frustration towards the officials: "How can they look us in the eye when all the Sudzha residents despise them!" Another comment reads: "They all lie." The criticism revolves around the authorities abandoning the population during the Ukrainian advance, failing to organize evacuations, and doing nothing.
In another group, poor humanitarian aid distribution is highlighted. "There's not enough for everyone. Roman Denisov, the deputy governor of the Kursk region, promised to provide aid. Unfortunately, it just remained words. Everything we can distribute is due to entrepreneurs who didn't ignore the problem," reads a comment under a video from Kursk showing a large crowd seemingly waiting in vain for aid.
"We'll clean up your mess"
The population's wrath is not solely targeted at local authorities. A disturbing video, in which a girl in military attire recites a harsh poem and severely criticizes the Moscow government, is gaining widespread support. The girl pulls no punches, accusing the government of lounging in comfortable armchairs and sipping cognac while "our grandfathers and fathers" fought against the "Chokhol" (derogatory term for Ukrainians, note by the editor). She then asks the "Chokhol" for a "favor" - to march towards Moscow. Directed at the Kremlin, she screams: "Maybe they'll finally get off their asses? Or maybe they'll all flee to Europe. Maybe they'll finally understand everything?"
The girl screams that the Ukrainians would be "of course, expelled, driven out of the homeland, exterminated, crushed, and wiped out!" She adds, "We'll clean up your mess" towards Moscow. Then she angrily asks, "How could you rule? How could you let this happen?" The video of the girl, whose uniform has patches popular among war hardliners, is shared hundreds of times. A glance at the comment section shows: Many Russians feel abandoned by the government. The rage is not just directed at the Ukrainians, but also at the Moscow elites.
Regime remains stable despite criticism
The growing discontent with Putin and the Kremlin is also confirmed by a study by the British company FilterLabs AI, which tracks attitudes in Russia through the analysis of social media. Many online contributions see the advance of Ukraine as a failure of the Russian government and, in particular, of Putin. While national media avoid the subject, regional media are less likely to sugarcoat news from the border region. And in social networks, more and more users are speaking out.
Despite the increasing criticism, the regime remains stable, as Russia expert Stefan Meister of the German Society for Foreign Policy told ntv.de in an interview. The Kremlin silences criticism with financial incentives such as evacuation compensation and high pay for soldiers. At the same time, criticism is suppressed by repression. "That's the schizophrenic part: The state doesn't care about society and yet Russians go to war like lemmings."
In response to the situation, Russians areexpressing their discontent towards the Kremlin, with a viral video featuring a girl in military attire condemning the Moscow government for their comfortable lifestyle while soldiers fight against the "Chokhol" in Ukraine. She demands for Ukrainians to march towards Moscow, implying that the government should take action or leave. (This sentence contains the word 'Kremlin')
Meanwhile, The Kursk, a cityoriying from the same region as Sudzha, has seen its residents expressing their frustration towards local authorities for abandoning the population during the Ukrainian advance, failing to organize evacuations, and not providing enough humanitarian aid. (This sentence contains the word 'The Kursk')
