I think it's you getting confused?
Firstly, why would you compare propaganda from ww1/2 to today's wars? They are totaly different wars, being fought in different ways.
You had to rely on any news from the state in ww1/2, it was more for keeping up morale back in the home countires than conveying accurate news. People didn't believe it fully back then either, but they also didn't have access to any other type of news, so it was that, or nothing. No one thought germans ate children. It was a joke. Something that the allies could rally around in a pub, or on the front line. Much like some people call the russians Orcs. They are obviously not a fantasy Tolkienian race, but it allows people to joke about them
Now we have access to anything on the Internet, posted by hundreds or thousands of people, all saying the same or similar things, so you can get a bigger and better picture of what is happening, untouched by the state
Who says that Ukraine should have reached crimea by now?
Even with the supposed loss of equipment, Russia does have spares, poor that they may be. They buy weapons from friendly countries or on the grey market. They replace the losses like any invading force would
People aren't confused as to why the counter offensive is slow. Its to expected. Russia had 6 months roughly to dig in, mine, camouflage etcetera...anyone who thinks that a few hundred Ukrainian soldiers at a random point would storm defences and break russian lines were deluding themselves from the start. These are probing attacks and attrition. Trying to find weak points and slowly driving the Russians back. It isnt D-Day, tens of thousands of troops supported by a massive naval bombardment, air attacks, and having special forces behind enemy lines causing havoc
Your perspective on this war, and how it is covered, compared to others is way off...its a bit unsettling that you are thinking this way