The collapse of Russia’s ambitions in Syria dealt a devastating blow, witnessing a swift toppling of Assad’s regime and the destruction of Russian interests in the region.
Russian military propagandists and Z-bloggers have received a new directive: prepare their audience for an end to the war with ukraine. Dubbed Z-war correspondent daniel Tulenkov, a self-proclaimed veteran of the conflict, asserts in his Telegram channel that continuing the fight against the West is impossible. The only logical path forward is to “recognize the losses” and exit the stage.
The fall of Russia’s influence in Syria, where rebel forces swiftly overthrew Assad and dismantled Russia’s strategic interests, serves as a stark reminder of their vulnerability on the global stage. This failure, argues the propagandist, signifies Russia’s inevitable defeat in the broader conflict with the West, especially without a “second front” in the Middle East.
“The failure on the Middle Eastern front is not insignificant; it’s a seriously damaging blow. It’s objective, inevitable, and unavoidable, but nonetheless it has a profound impact,” writes the Russian propagandist.
Tulenkov emphasizes that Russia can no longer sustain the war effort, advocating for an immediate halt to the conflict due to escalating losses. He contends that further engagement would be nothing more than a futile and meaningless drain of resources and lives, trapped in a strategic stalemate with no prospect of a breakthrough.
“There are no other options left, except for a swift withdrawal, accepting the losses, and retreating into a solid defensive position,” he concludes.
