ISW: Russian Generals Are Helping The Ukrainian Armed Forces
- 8.09.2026, 10:32
- 2,874
Gerasimov has become a true “ally” of Ukraine.
Statements by top Russian officials regarding the “capture” of Svyatogorsk in the Donetsk region have turned out to be yet another fabrication. The Ukrainian military is in full control of the city, and the Kremlin’s false reports have sparked a wave of critical commentary among Russian military propagandists.
The systematic distortion of the actual situation on the front lines poses a threat to the Russian army itself. This is discussed in an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Evidence from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and exposés in Russia
On September 1, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin publicly announced the alleged capture of Svyatogorsk by occupying forces. However, as early as September 7, the commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps, Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky published a video from Svyatogorsk itself. In the footage, he is seen moving freely within the town, confirming the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ firm control and designating the city as a Ukrainian “rear area.”
According to ISW experts, the nearest Russian units were located approximately 13 kilometers from Svyatogorsk as early as late spring–early summer, and against the backdrop of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counteroffensive operations, the occupiers’ current line of defense has been pushed back even further.
The city remains under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
In addition, an attempt by Russian propaganda to obscure reality with archival footage failed. On September 5, Russian sources attempted to pass off old, edited videos as “recent evidence” of control over Svyatogorsk.
On the same day, a Russian military blogger debunked these clips, admitting that the occupiers weren’t even in the vicinity. On September 7, a Kremlin-linked blogger confirmed Biletsky’s video and criticized Russian authorities for creating fakes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces easily debunk for the whole world to see.
How Lies Harm the Occupation Forces
ISW analysts emphasize that the systematic production of “embellished reports” for top leadership not only misleads the public but also directly hinders combat operations by Russian units.
By declaring a settlement “captured,” the Russian military command cannot request airstrikes on Ukrainian positions located there. Neighboring brigades and regiments plan their maneuvers based on a false map of territorial control, which leads to operational errors and unnecessary casualties.
Impunity for distorting the facts compels field commanders to generate even more false reports. Despite Putin’s sensitivity to accusations of being out of touch with reality, the Kremlin continues to use this distorted picture to exert political pressure. By insisting on false “successes,” Moscow is attempting to strengthen its position and demand Ukraine’s unconditional surrender, including the handover of regions, some of which the Russian military has never even occupied.
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