In a video posted on Twitter by Julia Davis, a reporter for the Daily Beast and creator of the Russian Media Monitor, Moscow State University professor Vitaly Tretyakov is seen discussing the ongoing war with Ukraine and said some Russian citizens may soon ask, “Where is our victory?” “Not everyone understands the paradox of this situation, there is enormous confidence in our victory, but in response there should be real achievements, when you are sure that we must win, when you are sure that our pursuit is just,” Tretyakov told video, according to a translation. “Social tensions could rise, not because the masses oppose the military operation, but because they might ask why it is not more active. Where is our victory? Where is the progress?” Tretyakov’s comments came as Ukrainian armed forces continued to work to push back Russian forces and try to recapture several areas, including Kherson, previously held by the Russian military. On Thursday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted an update on the ongoing war on its Facebook page, saying “enemy troops continue to suffer … significant losses,” despite Russia launching more than 10 missiles and 22 airstrikes. Volunteers clean up the ruins of a damaged house as a result of shelling in the village of Moshchun in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, September 9. On Friday, a Moscow professor appeared on Russian state television to say that “social tensions” could rise in Russia if a victory in the war with Ukraine is not achieved soon. SERGEI CHUZAVKOV/AFP/Getty Images On Friday, the Kyiv Post shared a photo on Twitter that appeared to show a bridge near the Kupyansk region, saying it had been destroyed by Ukrainian military forces. Igor Girkin, a former Russian military leader, gave an update on Ukraine’s counterattack in several areas in a post on Telegram, saying that “in the event that in the near future (one or two days) Russian troops will not be able to enter first to counterattacks, and then to counterattack and they will not restore land communication between Kupyansk and Izyum, our troops in this area will have a very “tight” perspective, and then they will be forced to leave the area, including its own city of Izyum”, according to English translation. In the video posted by Davis, Russian state TV host Yevgeny Popov can be heard responding to Tretyakov’s comments, saying: “I’ll answer all the nervous ones right away, let’s wait for the official statement from our Ministry of Defense.” Popov continued, “This special military operation is a tough job. Our heroes are doing their best. Nothing is ever simple. The front line can move back and forth, what matters is how it ends.” Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
