Russia has denied suffering a battlefield setback and the launch of a Ukrainian counter-offensive even as several Kremlin supporters – including Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private military company Wagner Group – continue to make contradicting statements.

In a late-night statement issued on Thursday, the Russian Defence Ministry stated that the “general situation” in the area of the special military operation remains under control with attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the positions of Russian troops being successfully repelled.

“Statements circulated by individual Telegram channels about “defence breakthroughs” that took place in various parts of the contact line do not correspond to reality,” it mentioned.

Over the past few weeks, several reports have indicated that Kyiv is on the threshold of launching its much-anticipated counter-offensive against Russian troops even though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told European broadcasters on Thursday that the country needs “a little more time” as it awaits the arrival of fresh Western military aid.

In view of the stagnation on the war front, famous Russian ideologue and architect of the concept of the “Russian world” Alexander Dugin, has aired a 7-point formula to counter the “enemy counter-offensive”. His posting has now gone viral on Russian social media.

In the viral Telegram post, Dugin admits that Ukraine has already launched the counter-offensive and suggests “declaring martial law and “war on the Kyiv regime” as the first action.

Dugin advises general mobilization, including the mobilization of industry and the economy; Immediate internment of the fifth column – the party of betrayal and change of personnel in a number of leading Russian ministries and departments “that made this situation possible” ruthlessly, uncompromisingly and immediately.

He also suggests “doing everything” to avoid the use of NSNW (Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons) but adds that if other listed actions do not help, then use TNW (Tactical Nuclear Weapons) for limited targets and “be ready to use strategic nuclear weapons”.

Dugin’s apparent sixth and seventh suggestion lists going for a sharp ideologization of Russian society. “Instead of liberalism, which, alas, continues to dominate, we need the ideology of patriotism both right and left at the same time.”.

The famous Russian philosopher also urges everyone to “rally around” the Supreme Commander (Russian President Vladimir Putin) and “act strictly according to his orders” insisting to “ignore everyone else but him as traitors can be everywhere”.