Putin’s top Ukraine commander launches war against Russian military bloggers by imposing restriction

Putin‘s top commander in Ukraine has launched a war against Russian military bloggers who have criticised tactics on frontline by imposing new reporting restrictions.

Russia‘s leading commander in Ukraine, General Valery Gerasimov, is enforcing strict reporting rules on Russian military bloggers who have previously attacked his tactics and strategies.

He is now demanding that bloggers wear blue ‘press’ body armour and stick to strict embedding regulations.

The commander of Russian forces in Ukraine was appointed three weeks ago according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War.

Russia’s leading commander in Ukraine, General Valery Gerasimov, is enforcing strict reporting rules on Russian military bloggers

The Telegraph reported that they claimed:  ‘The Russian military command may also be attempting to resurrect its previously unsuccessful censorship efforts targeting the critical milblogger community’.

These orders come after General Gerasimov’s previous orders to Russian soldiers to keep up their appearances by shaving and getting haircuts.

It is believed that these were implemented as a means of undermining shabby Wagner mercenaries, which were frequently outside of Russian military control, such as Chechen fighters.

The administration of these new reporting rules have not gone down well with Russian military bloggers as they argue the true reason behind them are to also undermine them.

Russian military bloggers work has become increasingly significant and influential since the beginning of the war against Ukraine last year.

These bloggers are exposed to millions who look to them for a more refined insight into the Russian perspective of the battlefields in Ukraine in comparison to what the Kremlin’s propaganda machine is prepared to offer.

However, despite the fact that these commentators have demonstrated a favour for the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine last February, the competence and leadership skills of the commanders have frequently been called into question. 

Vladimir Putin has also found himself to be the subject of scrutiny at the hands of bloggers for appointing General Gerasimov as the overall commander of Russian forces in Ukraine as opposed to the preferred choice of General Sergei Surovikin.

They are typically found to be more impressed by the exploits of the Wagner mercenaries and the Chechen fighters than they are of the Russian soldiers. 

Vladimir Putin faced scrutiny from the military bloggers for appointing General Gerasimov as the overall commander of Russian forces in Ukraine

‘Those who came up with this legislation are waging war against us using every method. Including dirty ones,’ said Russian military blogger Alexander Kots, according to The Telegraph.

The Institute for the Study of War also added that General Gerasimov was facing the danger that his new rules could create an ‘information vacuum’ for Wagner-linked bloggers ‘who have a significantly stronger distaste for the Russian ministry of defence’ to fill.