Increasingly difficult for Russia to hide losses, find resources to continue war - GUR

This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry (GUR), Ukrinform reports.

As the GUR noted, the war Russia unleashed against Ukraine is becoming a factor of irritation across the regions of the aggressor state.

War coverage by Russian propaganda for its own population is leading to discontent and fatigue rather than to excitement or exaltation as was the case at the outset of the invasion.

"One of the reasons for such changes is the inconsistency of official war coverage with the actual situation on the ground: the casualty toll is increasingly difficult to hide, and the resources for pursuing hostilities are running out, which, in particular, is evidenced by Moscow's active preparation for a record tax increase in its history," the report reads.

According to the GUR, the Kremlin's plan, budget levies will increase for Russians who earn more than $2,200 a month – under the guise of a "progressive scale of personal income tax". The income tax rate will increase from 20% to 25%.

The Russian regime estimates that the so-called tax reform will bring nearly $200 billion in the period from 2025 to 2031.

Also, the disappointing dynamics of public sentiment, monitored by the Kremlin, forces the military and political leadership to prepare the population for harder times. Regional representatives of the Putin regime are already trying to shift public focus away from annoying military topics to the urgent solution of social and everyday problems.

As the GUR emphasizes, Putin's subordinates, including ruling party members, have been deployed to the regions to set up various support activities for war veterans and their family members, participate in receptions, develop and discuss show-off social bills: on support for volunteering, salary increases, and protection of veterans.

A special focus is on the support of the disabled, whose number is constantly increasing amid the ongoing war against Ukraine. In particular, the Russian authorities seek to develop domestic tourism for the invaders maimed during hostilities. The minimum number of spots for disabled drivers in Russian parking lots is now 15%.

"In general, the intensification of ‘social’ efforts on the part of the aggressor state indicates an attempt to water down discontent and avoid uncontrolled social explosions in Russia," the GUR emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, NATO has no doubt North Korea provides significant military support to Russia to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine.