MUTINOUS Russian personnel are destroying their weapons and refusing to carry out instructions as Red Army casualties continue to rise, a UK intelligence head claimed today.
Vladimir Putin “massively underestimated” how difficult conquering Ukraine would be, yet he remains committed to his “personal war” – even as his badly nourished and equipped forces surrender.
It occurred after film showed dejected conscripts moaning about being “thrown into the s**t” with non-functioning 1940s guns.
Friendly fire has downed planes, and Russia’s “command and control is in turmoil,” according to GCHQ chief Sir Jeremy Fleming.
Russian soldiers have been stymied and driven back after encountering stiff opposition. Trostyanets, a strategically vital town in the north-east, has been retaken, with the occupying soldiers departing, leaving their uniforms behind.
But, as what was supposed to be a lightning conflict drags on, Putin’s frightened generals keep the amount of combat casualties from him.
By collecting phone conversations, texts, and emails, GCHQ eavesdroppers have gathered up on rumours of rebellion and division in the ranks.
“We know Putin’s operation is afflicted by issues – poor morale, logistical breakdowns, and high Russian mortality counts,” Sir Jeremy told an audience in Canberra, Australia. Putin has lied to his own people in order to conceal military failure.
“We’ve seen Russian soldiers, depleted of weaponry and morale, refuse to carry out instructions, sabotage their own equipment, and even inadvertently shoot down their own planes.”
“Even if we feel Putin’s advisers are hesitant to tell him the truth,” he said at the Australian National University, “what’s going on and the gravity of these misjudgments must be crystal evident to the government.”
“It all adds up to the geopolitical blunder that Western officials warned Putin about.” It’s become his personal conflict, with innocent Ukrainians and, increasingly, regular Russians bearing the burden.”
He cautioned that Russia is deploying mercenaries and foreign soldiers as “cannon fodder” in order to “minimise Russian military casualties.” Russia has lost around 15,000 troops and 2,000 military vehicles thus far.
Sir Jeremy’s scathing assessment has been echoed by US officials, who allege Putin’s aides are “too terrified to tell him the truth.”
In an indication of the Kremlin’s paranoia and suspicion, the US believes that Putin has been “misled by the Russian military” and has lost trust in his senior aides.
According to one document, the dictator “didn’t even realise his military was utilising and losing conscripts, demonstrating a severe breakdown in the flow of factual information.”
“We have evidence that Putin felt deceived by the Russian military,” it continues. According to the publication, there is “constant conflict” between Putin and his Ministry of Defence, stemming from his “confidence” in the department’s leadership.
A video of young Russian conscripts lamenting about being compelled to fight and seeing colleagues dead emerged as a symbol of the hopelessness affecting Putin’s soldiers.
They stated they were being transported into battle “with weapons against Grad” rockets while huddled in what seems to be a military van.
“They f*****d us,” one says. “What exactly are we doing here?” “Our guns are from the 1940s,” exclaims another. They don’t f*****g have f*****g fire.” They want viewers to “spread the word” that they oppose the war.
