When Vladimir Putin’s relentless war machine withdrew from northern Ukraine in April, Kharkiv county in September and the city of Kherson last week, it was not Putin himself who told the public about the defeats.
Russia’s strongman leaves this task to others, and he does it deliberately, according to Russia expert Jørn Holm-Hansen, a researcher at Oslomet University.
Shock discovery: – Torture and Russian roulette
– Putin only serves good news, where he kind of cleans things up himself. It’s not unusual for him to call ministers to televised meetings, where he tells them they need to rectify this and that. So Putin appears as a wise man who makes wise decisions, Holm-Hansen tells Dagbladet.
– When Russian soldiers are back in coffins and the war, from Russia’s point of view, goes in the wrong direction, it becomes more difficult. Then he has to shut up, he adds.
“I do not have anything to say”
The withdrawals are all seen as major setbacks for Russia.
Russia thought it would be able to overthrow the Kiev authorities within a short period of time, but instead was forced to withdraw from the northern parts of Ukraine as early as late March and early April.
They also never managed to capture Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, and after a lightning Ukrainian offensive in September, Russian forces had to flee the entire county.
– War or no war
Last week, after eight months of war, Russia was forced to abandon the city of Kherson, the capital of the homonymous county. It was the only county capital Russia has managed to occupy since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
All defeats were announced by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
– The Minister of Defense made the decision, I have nothing to say about it, said Putin’s press spokesman Dmitry Peskov about the withdrawal from Kherson last week, according to BBC.
– A tsar at the top
On the same day that the Russian authorities announced their withdrawal from Kherson, Putin gave a speech. That Kherson was lost to the Russians was not mentioned a word in the president’s speech, writes the Associated Press news agency.
Later that day he had several meetings. Even then he did not comment on the situation in Kherson or Ukraine in general.
– When Russia withdrew from Kherson, it was Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russia’s Commander-in-Chief in Ukraine Sergei Surovikin who announced the withdrawal. Putin said nothing. This is what happens when you have a system with almost a czar at the top. So it’s important for Putin to appear to be balancing different interests against each other and making wise decisions, says Holm-Hansen.
Experts: – It can have serious consequences
Putin has been successful in this for more than 20 years, says the Russian researcher.
– That’s why Putin has become so popular in Russia.
But no rules without exceptions.
When the bridge from mainland Russia to the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula was hit by an explosion in October, Putin went public.
During a speech to members of the Russian Security Council, he opened by accusing the Ukrainian special forces of the attack.
It is not known who was behind the explosion.
Announced annexation
Good news, however, seen from the eyes of the Russians, Putin would very much like to bring it himself.
When, at the end of September, Russia annexed four Ukrainian counties, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya, it was Putin himself who announced that the areas had been incorporated into the Russian Federation.
It happened during a big party in Moscow.
– Putin is often in the media, but usually happy things. For example, he doesn’t participate in debates, but he travels and cuts the cords, says Holm-Hansen.
– He probably lied
However, the Russian president is not alone in his desire to broadcast only good news.
– On this point, Putin is not all that different from the other heads of state. In many other countries, including Norway, we have had prime ministers who have sent their ministers to the wolves while they themselves have disappeared.
But in the dire situation Russia is in, perhaps something else could have been expected from Putin.
– That is why it is surprising that Putin is not clearer, says Holm-Hansen.
