Russian military blogger Yuri Kotenok, writing on his pro-invasion Telegram channel, reported in April 2026 that along parts of the front line there are "categorically, physically no people," attributing the breakdown to a command culture he called "krugovoe vran'ye" — circular lying — in which officers advance careers through false reports rather than results, according to War on the Rocks. Said Kotenok: "The military situation is only getting worse, especially compared to '22 and '23. Everyone sees it, everyone understands it, and everyone stays silent."