On Monday, many of Russia's hardline military analysts were angered and embarrassed by President Joe Biden's unexpected visit to Ukraine.
Biden's historic visit occurred days before the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thereby putting pressure on Vladimir Putin as the Russian leader prepares to defend his halting incursion in a national address.
Yet, the visit infuriated Russian pro-military and ultranationalist forces, as it upstages Putin on the day of a big talk in which he is due to boasting the alleged successes of what he euphemistically terms a "special military operation."
"Biden in [Kyiv]. Demonstrative humiliation of Russia," Russian journalist Sergey Mardan wrote in a snarky response on his Telegram channel. "Tales of miraculous hypersonics may be left for children. Just like spells about the holy war we are waging with the entire West."
"I guess there are lunch breaks in a holy war," he said.
Igor Girkin, a former officer of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and a veteran of the Russian armed forces, hypothesized that Biden could have visited the frontlines in eastern Ukraine without danger.
"Wouldn't be surprised if the grandfather (he is not good for anything but simple provocations anyway) is brought to Bakhmut as well... AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO HIM," Girkin said.
Girkin is one of a handful of hardline military bloggers, some of whom have hundreds of thousands of followers and provide conflict analysis to wide sections of the Russian populace, who have regularly attacked Putin's generals' "soft" stance on the battlefield.
Biden's trip into an active warzone when the U.S. did not have a substantial military presence was unusual for a U.S. leader.
According to Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, the U.S. informed Moscow of the vice president's plans to visit the Ukrainian capital for "deconfliction purposes" a few hours before he left.
Putin will deliver a significant address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday in which he discusses the ongoing invasion, so he will not be pleased by the debate over Biden's visit.
Participants in what Russia refers to as its "special military operation" will be present, but no foreign guests or representatives will be invited, a Kremlin spokesman told reporters on Monday.
Putin is set to start a new onslaught in Ukraine in the coming weeks, more than a year after he launched Europe's largest land conflict since World War II with an unsuccessful assault on Kyiv and central Ukraine.
