Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ Russian commanders often send men on suicidal 'flag-sticking' missions to raise the Russian flag over objectives, so that they can claim to have captured them and obtain personal rewards. As a Russian warblogger comments, this frequently leads to heavy Russian casualties. ⬇️

2/ Commanders' routine lies about military successes have often been commented on by Russian warbloggers. They have strong incentives to fake successes, such as the prospect of cash awards, medals, and promotions.

https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1888551675918512471

3/ As 'The Science of Winning' comments on Telegram, this causes the deaths of many Russian soldiers, not just the original 'flag-stickers':

"One of the most striking manifestations of lies in this war is an event known as "flag-sticking."

4/ "For those unfamiliar, it's when one or two soldiers are quietly sent into the "grey zone" or even to the enemy's forward positions, who then show up on camera and quickly leave before the enemy can crush them.

5/ "Then this video is shown to a more senior commander, and someone is awarded a reward for this deception (even a gold star [Hero of Russia medal]). And it's supposed to be objectively monitored. But it's a lie.

6/ "Then they start moving the line of contact on the map and reporting everything to higher-ups. But in reality, the territory is unoccupied. It's a deception, most often a deception for the sake of a reward. And that's bad.

7/ "After the "line of contact has changed," other areas need to be moved. And then the neighbours' offensive mission is cut off. Only, unlike a "flag sticking," the neighbors actually go on the offensive and may even take up positions (which is far from certain).

8/ "And then, after they capture their positions, from the flank where their neighbors should be, they are pushed "all the way."

9/ "Then the logistics lines for these assaults are cut off, and the guys are stuck in the captured positions without ammunition or anything else important.

10/ "A day later, the guys are killed, the offensive fizzles out, and the commander who honestly led his men into battle "shits himself," while the "flag-sticker" commander remains a stellar performer. And why?

11/ "Because no senior commander will admit that a subordinate managed to deceive him, and he, in turn, deceived his superior commander. So the "flag-sticker" will keep his award and do everything possible to hush up the lie. But the story of the lie doesn't end there.

12/ "Once the lie is exposed, comrade "flag-sticker" will drive his men to the sword. Without preparation, without reconnaissance, without cover. Because the senior commander yesterday reprimanded him at a meeting for lying for the sake of a reward.

13/ "And we must immediately and directly assault those positions where we've "already consolidated." And that means far greater losses and far less results.

14/ "The result of the "flag-sticking" lie: two companies lost 60-70% of their soldiers each, with the same result. And the boss doesn't provide extra personnel or equipment for cheating. It's all for the sake of a reward and "praise from the bosses." /end

https://x.com/wartranslated/status/1885729879229944048

15/ Source:
t.me/naukapobezhdat…