Yes no need for misinformation when the truth is bad enough. The fact that Russia has recently had a major defeat is stunning.
The withdrawal of a garrison of 2,000 troops who faced a Zerg rush of 20,000 cannon fodder in one area of a 1200 km front is hardly a major defeat. If so then the US lost the Afghan war in Korengal (even though it really lost it last year).
The Russians were re-positioning their troops from Izyum, and Western intelligence spilled to the Ukrainians about it.
Check the casualties from the "major defeat".