VLADIMIR PUTIN has “lost” his battle with Ukraine due to a series of “catastrophic misjudgements,” according to the leader of Britain’s armed forces.
Russian officers, according to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, had taken men into combat without their knowledge, a technique he called “crazy” and “morally bankrupt.” Sir Tony, speaking at an event organised by the Institute for Government think tank, claimed the military losses had “diminished” Putin’s standing.

“The sights coming out of Mariupol and elsewhere are horrible, and the coming weeks will be very difficult,” he warned.

“However, Putin has already lost in many respects.” Putin has harmed himself by a succession of disastrous miscalculations, far from being the foresighted manipulator of events that he would have us think.

“Like many authoritarians, Putin deluded himself about his own power, especially the efficacy of Russia’s military forces.”

“His efforts to date have done more to unite than divide, and have demonstrated that Ukraine has the one thing Russia noticeably lacks – true allies.”

“What is evident is that Putin is a weaker and more reduced figure now than he was a month ago, while NATO is stronger and more unified today than at any point in my memory.”

Sir Tony, a former commander of the Navy, went on to say that there were “early signs” that Russian soldiers were withdrawing.

“I believe we’re seeing that Russia’s goals to take Kyiv and Russia’s plans to seize the entire Ukraine and do it in a very rapid and impressive way, those ambitions have broken apart,” he added.

“And it appears that less focus is now being placed on Kyiv, and more emphasis is being placed on the east and south.”