INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
increasingly popular source of information about the fighting in Ukraine, amassing huge online followings on the Telegram messaging
over the Ukrainian border in February, a group of men with connections to the military have been using Telegram to deliver live updates on
They also detail Ukrainian failures, parrot extreme nationalist views and offer ways people can help Russian troops fighting at the
Following a crackdown that virtually wiped out independent war coverage, the pro-war channels are some of the only platforms in Russia to
The channel publishes high-quality maps of the frontlines as well as frequent photos and videos of the aftermath of fighting
with Russian mercenary outfit Wagner, including Reverse Side of the Medal, with 160,000 subscribers, and Grey Zone, which has 310,000
bloggers come from a military background
Novelist Zakhar Prilepin, the ex-leader of the ultra-conservative For Truth party, regularly posts updates of Russian military activity in
catastrophe," said one post Prilepin shared last week.Are there any state journalists among them?Yes
channels run by war correspondents include Alexander Sladkov, who has 900,000 followers, and War Gonzo, run by Semyon Pegov, which has 1.1
These channels often offer exclusive footage from the frontlines: Pegov, for example, was the only journalist in Izium when it was
surrounded by Ukrainian forces last week.Are there channels with ties to officials?Yes
Although these bloggers rarely stray from the Kremlin line, they can sometimes be more outspoken than officials who generally remain
source of unquestioning support for the Kremlin, these pro-war bloggers have become increasingly disillusioned with those in charge of the
to stamp out these dissenting voices, they could find themselves facing fines or lengthy prison sentences under strict wartime censorship
laws.Asked about criticism from bloggers on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov set out the increasingly precarious line these pro-war
