‘I don’t believe in any defeat. Nonsense’

Vladimir Putin may have suffered a humiliating defeat in Ukraine but in Moscow you would hardly know it. People go about their lives in the Russian capital blissfully unaware of the horrendous toll of the war and ignorant of his army’s setbacks.

Marina, 56, a housewife and retired accountant, told The Sunday Post: “I don’t believe in any military defeat, it’s all complete nonsense.

“The TV news says it’s a regrouping, and so it is. Our mood? It hasn’t changed, and why should it?

“Things have remained the same, though prices have risen slightly.”

Some educated Russians can delve deeper on the web and see Western or Ukrainian versions of the retreat from Kharkiv region.

“This looks like more bad news for Putin, and an inexplicable failure by our forces,” said Artyom, 39, a web designer, who reads the foreign media.

“But none of my friends believe me. They think we’re winning, and slaying the mythical Nazis.

“They don’t realise our death toll is as high as 60,000 so far in this criminal war, a tragic figure, as our media do not report it.

“And that’s apart from all the Ukrainians killed and wounded by our forces, including those in atrocities.

“But I cannot say this openly, even to my family and friends.

“They might report me for spreading lies about the Russian army, though these are not lies.”

Igor, 52, an engineer, receives his news from the state media, and last weekend enjoyed celebrations for the 875th anniversary of the founding of Moscow, attended by Putin.

“The city looked amazing, there’s no feeling of war here, none at all,” he said.

“In Kharkiv, this was a regrouping of our forces. Anyway it is far from Moscow.

“Our president knows exactly what to do. I believe him because I am a patriot of Russia.”

Yet there are other signs that Russians may not be able to ignore as winter approaches.

People’s savings are depleting as prices rise, say studies.

“It’s true shopping gets more expensive, including my favourite Famous Grouse whisky,” Igor complained.

His tipple remains available despite sanctions but has more than doubled in price from £14.60 to £30.70 since the war started in February.

“It’s a price we have to pay to defeat Ukrainian fascism,” he claimed unconvincingly, sticking to the line of TV propagandists.

But as a report by independent Russian media Meduza revealed last week, Putin’s inner circle are turning to alcohol due to their angst over his foolhardy war. The report said he is concerned about the Kremlin booze culture.