What Russians are told - and not told - about Ukrainian strikes

Key Points:

• On Sept. 12, Ukrainian drones targeted military facilities in Taganrog, including a drone production plant and air defense systems, but Russian local authorities reported damage mainly to civilian infrastructure, reflecting differing narratives about the attacks.
• Russian audiences receive fragmented information about the war, with most relying on state TV and local communities that downplay military targets, while pro-war military bloggers provide more detailed but one-sided coverage; independent media offer the most comprehensive reports but have the smallest reach.
• When strikes hit close to home, such as in Taganrog and Yamalo-Nenets, local populations begin questioning official accounts and the effectiveness of air defenses, though skepticism does not necessarily translate into anti-war sentiment.
• Key military strikes concealed from the broader Russian public in September included attacks on a drone factory and military airfield in Taganrog, a frigate in Novorossiysk, a drone launch base in Oryol Oblast, the Moscow oil refinery, and a gas plant in Yamalo-Nenets.
• Overall, Russian regional audiences remain largely shielded from the true scale and impact of Ukraine's strikes, sustaining a narrative of resilience despite mounting evidence of vulnerabilities and setbacks in the war effort.