The Russian Federation's actual military gains turned out to be five times smaller than Putin's claims

Since the beginning of the year, Russian troops have captured or infiltrated an area of 621.7 square kilometers, which is nearly five times less than what Putin claims. 

Putin claimed that since the beginning of the year, Russia had seized more than 3,000 square kilometers and 133 settlements in Ukraine, while his Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, claimed the capture of 636 square kilometers and 29 settlements in June. However, ISW analysts counted only 64 settlements that Russian soldiers had infiltrated or captured—more than half as many as the Kremlin’s figures—and 621.7 square kilometers.

In this way, Vladimir Putin and his military are attempting to portray the army’s achievements on the front lines as decisive and capable of radically changing the course of the war in Moscow’s favor. These efforts are aimed at convincing the public that events are unfolding as they should, against the backdrop of a fuel crisis and massive Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries and military factories. In addition, the Russian authorities are trying to impress Donald Trump, as the Kremlin hopes to achieve through U.S. mediation in negotiations the goals it has been unable to achieve on the front lines through human wave attacks. 

Source: ISW.

The administration of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has ordered state-controlled media to stop publishing photos and videos showing the aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. 

Meanwhile, the fuel crisis in Russia is worsening: gasoline is running out at gas stations and lines are growing longer.