Putin's alternative reality

 BBC:

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President Putin used the address to promote the Kremlin's alternative reality: that in this conflict Russia's the hero and Ukraine and the West are the villains.

"For years, Western elites hypocritically assured us of their peaceful intentions…but in fact, they encouraged the neo-Nazis in every possible way," President Putin said.

"Defending our Motherland is the sacred duty we owe to our ancestors and descendants."

When the Kremlin talks about "defending our Motherland", keep in mind that it was Russia that invaded Ukraine. Not the other way around.

The Russian President claims his country is benefiting enormously from the dramatic events of 2022: "It was a year of… important steps towards Russia's full sovereignty."

"We lay the foundation for our common future, our true independence."

The assertion that, in this war, Russia is fighting for its sovereignty and independence is puzzling, to say the least.

For a start Russia has long been a sovereign, independent nation. Even if you accept Vladimir Putin's premise that Russia never achieved "full sovereignty" the question arises: why not? Mr Putin's been in power for 23 years. Long enough, you may think, to sort that.

The other thing President Putin does in his new year address is to divide Russians into us and them, into those who support his "special military operation" and those who don't.

"It was a year that put many things in their place," the Kremlin leader said, "and drew a clear line between courage and heroism, on the one hand, and betrayal and cowardice on the other…"

In 2023 we're likely to see the Kremlin drawing this line ever more clearly. The Russian authorities have mobilised all the country's resources for the "special military operation".

There is no room for debate or discussion: the government expects the public to rally round and to support the president. Those Russians who don't will be made to feel they're betraying their Motherland.
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This is a strange speech that continues to raise questions about Putin's mental state and why he launched this unnecessary war against a country that was not a threat to Russia.  Putin does have a few people who support this undertaking, but his claim that Ukraine is ruled by Nazis is absurd.

See, also:

Russia has enough missiles only for two large-scale attacks

And:

 5 of the biggest surprises of Putin's devastating war in Ukraine

And:

Russia scrounging for resources 

  Russia is desperate for some good news out of Ukraine, where Russian forces have suffered one failure after another. Sensing an opportunity, Russian forces have suffered heavy casualties trying to push Ukrainian forces out of a few key locations in the Donetsk province, which is part of Russian occupied Donbas. Russia has been using Wagner Group mercenaries for most of the attacks because these troops are more effectively led and willing to continue making seemingly suicidal attacks on Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian defenders are special operations troops whose orders are to inflict maximum casualties on the attacker while minimizing enemy advances and Ukrainian casualties. In return the Russians can regularly issue press releases announcing continued advances by their troops without revealing that these advances often consist of a few meters in the general direction of the Ukrainian positions. The Russian attacks are supposed to tie down a lot of Ukrainian troops but that does not happen and it is Russia that is losing lots of its most effective troops every week without any useful gains. Some Russian pro-war Internet reporters can get away with mentioning how the “Donetsk Offensive” really works as long as they don’t it too vividly or frequently. Ukrainian leaders offer more effusive and frequent praise for the Ukrainian defenders.

And:

 Have Cancer Drugs Warped Putin’s Decision Making?