Ukraine war latest: 'Disorganised' Russian retreat highlights 'severe shortage' of effective soldiers

Over the last week, we've reported on the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, scolding top Russian military brass.

In another sign of discontent, members of the hardline nationalist Club of Angry Patriots have publicly criticised the Russian war effort.

The group held a press conference launching critiques of the Kremlin's inner circle - while avoiding pro-war factions, the Institute for the Study of War said.

Among them was Mikhail Aksel, party coordinator for Another Russia, who said the military cannot achieve decisive battlefield results in its current form.

Pavel Gubarev, self-proclaimed "people's governor" of Donetsk People's Republic, said the "special military operation" should aim to "eliminate Ukrainian statehood". 

The public format of this press conference is "noteworthy," said the ISW, suggesting the group "have had some success in reaching broader audiences" through their social media accounts on Telegram.

This is potentially because "domestic pro-war factions are increasingly discontent with the way Russia has been fighting the war," the think tank suggested. 

It added the group held the press conference "during a period of high information space agitation about a future Ukrainian counteroffensive, which may inflame some factions' criticisms of senior Russian leadership for poor performance in the war".