Pro-Moscow Russian Reporters: The Russian Army Was Not Prepared for the Ukraine War

At the end of the third year of Russia's war against Ukraine, while the Russian army has made significant advances, pro-war Russian reporters known as "Group Z" report unresolved issues that have persisted "since day one." According to them, the Russian army was "in no way" prepared for war, and "capturing any hill is only possible with unimaginable casualties." They also lament that "90 percent" of Russian citizens are indifferent to the war and "fear the return of veterans from the front." Who are the "Z reporters"? While the political atmosphere in Russia has been cleansed of any independent opinion, pro-war Telegram channels, collectively known as "Group Z" or "Z reporters," have become the main source of information for those in Russia following developments in the war against Ukraine. "Group Z" encompasses representatives of various political views, whose opinions often contradict Kremlin policies and are filled with criticisms of senior military officials. At the beginning of the military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army, most military equipment was marked with the letter Z, which has since become a symbol of the war. Ivan Filipov, a writer and political analyst who claims to review over 200 pro-war Telegram channels daily since the war began, explains the emergence of this group: "In the early days of the war, many Russian citizens realized that Kremlin-backed media, especially national television, were lying to them, and senior Russian officials, including the President and Defense Ministry leaders, exaggerated achievements and downplayed problems." Filipov, often referred to as the "most important expert on Group Z," adds: "As Russian citizens sought alternative information sources in the closed media environment within Russia and amidst disbelief in international media, dozens of Telegram channels emerged to cover the developments of the war." Among the authors of these Telegram channels are Russian army soldiers, veterans, volunteers collecting financial aid for Russian forces or residents of areas near the front lines, journalists, mercenaries, doctors, priests, and others. Some of these channels have millions of followers. Reports about the relationship between "Group Z" and the Kremlin have been contradictory. Most analysts believe that although the "Z reporters" often criticize senior military officials, they still enjoy Kremlin support and have met with the Russian President several times. Following restrictions imposed on official Russian media in Western countries, the Russian government has utilized the Z Telegram channels to inform outside the country. Recently, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reported that about 800 Telegram channels are financially supported by the Russian government in 30 languages. These channels are read daily by about 100 million users, and this audience is increasing. In this context, Andrei Medvedev, a prominent Russian propagandist, has repeatedly called Telegram "the most important messaging app of the war period." Many representatives of "Group Z" believe that the goals and methods of Russia's war against Ukraine have been wrong, but their criticisms do not stem from opposition to the war; rather, they want the war to be managed differently. Therefore, since the early days of Russia's large-scale military invasion of Ukraine, this group has continuously targeted senior Russian military officials with criticism. As Russia's all-out war against Ukraine approaches the end of its third year, the "Z reporters" believe that "the Russian army was not prepared for this war, and many issues remain unresolved." It is estimated that during the third year of the war, the Russian army occupied about four thousand square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, which is nearly seven times more than the area controlled by Russia during the second year. According to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank that analyzes developments in the Russia-Ukraine war daily, the Russian army had about 420,000 killed and wounded in 2024. In the list of casualties compiled by the "Mediazona" and the Russian section of the BBC, about 85,000 Russian soldiers have been recorded as dead. The "Z reporters" also report on the "unimaginable human cost" paid for the achievements of the Russian army in Ukraine. In recent months, "Group Z" has popularized three new terms: "stachivanie" meaning "shaving," used to describe Russian military units that have been completely wiped out while capturing a Ukrainian village or town; "meat assault," an attack that comes at the cost of killing most or all Russian soldiers; and "erasing," a term that has recently become particularly common and refers to illegal executions by forcing some Russian soldiers to attack Ukrainian fortifications. The "Z reporters" write about widespread financial corruption, "terrible disorder" among Russian forces, and the "appalling state of military medicine." Many of these reports focus on "incredible bureaucracy" and the "stupidity and cruelty of commanders." They also express concern that "only seven to ten percent of Russian society actively helps Russian soldiers, and 90 percent are indifferent to the developments of the war, living as if there is no war." Many reports indicate the "fear" of Russian citizens towards veterans. Following the release of numerous criminals from prison on the condition of fighting in Ukraine, many of them have committed murder and violence again after returning from the front. "Group Z" addresses various issues, and only one topic has become distinctly "taboo"; there is no criticism of Vladimir Putin in these reports. According to Ivan Filipov, an analyst of the Telegram channels of the "Z reporters," these individuals have learned a lesson from the fate of Igor Strelkov. Strelkov, an extremist nationalist accused of playing a role in the occupation of Crimea and instigating the war in Eastern Ukraine, joined the "Z reporters" at the beginning of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine and referred to Putin as "a coward, dim-witted, and incompetent" in his writings. He is now imprisoned in Russia on terrorism charges.