Vladimir Putin is reportedly hiding in a subterranean bunker network while making up fake war wins to fool his own people, experts say. The Russian president has been boasting about Moscow's military victories across Ukraine from his underground hideout, claiming one area after another has fallen.
But Western scholars say many of the "triumphs" are pure fiction, forming part of an elaborate alternative reality designed to manipulate 140 million Russians and influence political elites in the White House.
Zelensky Humiliates Putin in Kupyansk
In one glaring example, Putin bragged his armoured divisions had seized the ancient eastern Ukrainian city of Kupyansk. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately humiliated the Kremlin leader by marching into the heart of the peaceful city and filming himself on its streets.
"Today, I am in the Kupyansk sector, with our warriors," Zelensky said in a video posted online. "I visited our troops and congratulated them. I thank each of the units, everyone who is fighting here, everyone who is destroying the occupier."
He added: "Today, achieving results on the frontline is crucial so that Ukraine can achieve results in diplomacy. All our strong positions within the country translate into strong positions in the negotiations to end the war."
Similar scenes have played out repeatedly, with Putin claiming a new conquest, only for Ukrainian leaders to film themselves reporting live from inside the supposedly captured towns.
Putin Forced into Shelters by Drone Strikes
Unlike Zelenskyy, who regularly visits troops on the frontlines, Putin almost never sets foot in occupied territory. British scholar Peter Dickinson, from the Atlantic Council think tank, says Ukraine's deadly missile and drone strikes have forced the shell-shocked Russian president to scurry into underground shelters.
"Putin feels the need to exaggerate Russia's military gains in order to demoralize Ukraine's Western allies and discourage further support for Kyiv," Dickinson told the Bloomberg news agency. He added that Putin is desperate to cover up the fact his army has performed "far below expectations."
Russia's Advance Halted by Drone Warfare
Despite Moscow's wildly inflated claims, CIA Director John Ratcliffe revealed Russia's advances have virtually ground to a total halt thanks to Ukraine's mastery of high-tech drone warfare.
"Right now, Russia occupies 20% of Ukraine," Ratcliffe said during a recent interview. "When I came in as CIA director, 18 months ago, Russia occupied 19% of Ukraine."
"The pace of their advance has stopped with Ukraine's mastery of emerging technologies, in this case, drone warfare, asymmetric warfare."
Ratcliffe added that Ukraine's dynamic use of AI-powered killer drones has levelled the battlefield against Russia's far larger army. "The average life expectancy of a Russian recruit right now, arriving on the battlefield in Ukraine, is estimated to be between 20 and 30 minutes," he said. "And that's because AI powered drones have gotten to be such specialised, low cost killing machines."
As his invasion falters, a desperate Putin has resorted to nuclear sabre-rattling and wild threats aimed at foreign diplomats in Kyiv. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova defiantly declared on X: "Russia has a message for foreign diplomats in Kyiv: Leave, or risk your lives. Our answer: We are staying."
