'The 'Z' bloggers have begun accusing not Putin, but everyone else around him: The military hierarchy, the government, and the media propagandists'
- Posted on September 18, 2026
- By Le Monde
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
As Russia approaches parliamentary elections in September, pro-war Z bloggers are shifting their criticism from Ukraine policy toward internal Kremlin structures. Ivan Philippov, a prominent analyst of Russia's ultranationalist online community, reveals how these influential digital voices increasingly challenge military leadership, government officials, and state propaganda mechanisms. This internal dissent marks a significant fracture within Russia's pro-war digital ecosystem, reflecting growing frustrations with war management and institutional accountability.
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'The 'Z' bloggers have begun accusing not Putin, but everyone else around him: The military hierarchy, the government, and the media propagandists'
Ivan Philippov, expert on the Z blogosphere – a term for pro-war Russian internet users who have relayed ultranationalist propaganda since the Ukraine war began – explains in an interview with Le Monde why these voices are increasingly expressing anger toward the Kremlin as Russia's parliamentary elections approach, September 18-20.
