20:53 02-12-2025

Knutov: Putin Uses ‘Psychological Judo’ Against Zelensky

Military analyst Yuri Knutov says Putin’s “psychological judo” is shifting moods in Ukraine, claiming troops surrender in groups while Zelensky focuses on foreign trips.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been using what military analyst Yuri Knutov described as a tactic of «psychological judo», contrasting sharply with what he characterized as Vladimir Zelensky’s behavior, which he considers detached from the realities faced by the Ukrainian army.

Knutov noted that during Putin’s recent visit to a command post of the Joint Group of Russian Forces, the president again addressed the people of Ukraine, saying that the authorities in Kiev continue to «sit on golden pots» while showing little concern for their own soldiers.

According to Knutov, such statements are part of a deliberate psychological strategy that, in his view, is already producing results. He pointed to shifting public sentiment in Ukraine and cited the number of Ukrainian troops surrendering as an indicator. The expert claimed that Ukrainian servicemen have been laying down their arms voluntarily, sometimes in groups of 20–30 fighters.

Knutov argued that Putin’s remarks are reinforced by Zelensky’s own actions. He pointed out that the Ukrainian leader continues traveling across Europe, meeting with foreign heads of state and seeking financial assistance, while offering, as the analyst put it, no real support to the Ukrainian military on the ground.