Vladimir Putin’s understanding of Russia’s advance in Ukraine has been called into doubt, according to US officials, who claim military commanders are frightened of informing him that the army has made no meaningful progress in more than a month of fighting. Despite intense bombardment and shelling, Ukraine ramped up its defence, and Russian forces were either repulsed or forced back across the west. Dmitri Alperovitch, a Russian specialist, suggested that claims that he is uninformed are “messing” with Putin’s brain and prompting him to reevaluate his viewpoint.

Mr. Alperovich told CNN, “It’s been just incredible to witness this.”

“The fact that we’re declassifying some of the most sensitive intelligence we’re likely to have, understanding what Putin’s aides are advising him…

“Imagine the kind of access we’d need to have to know that, and, frankly, the sources and techniques we’d have to jeopardise to do so.”

He added: “There’s no bigger insult to a KGB officer, former KGB officer, than to tell him that he’s misinformed about his own military and his own war.

“Even calling him a butcher is probably considered as some sort of twisted praise.

“But calling him misinformed, he’s really upset about that.”

White House Communication director Kate Bedingfield confirmed reports have emerged claiming Putin is currently being “misled” on the state of the war by “yes men.”

Ms Bedingfield remarked to the press earlier this week: “According to our intelligence, Putin felt deceived by the Russian military, which has resulted in ongoing animosity between Putin and his military leadership.

“We believe Putin is being misled by his advisers about how poorly the Russian military is doing and how sanctions are crippling the Russian economy because his senior aides are too terrified to tell him the truth.”

The top US official stated that the decision to make the material public was taken to demonstrate to the world that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “strategic miscalculation.”

According to a second official: “It may be beneficial. Does it foment discord among the ranks?

Ms Bedingfield remarked to the press earlier this week: “According to our intelligence, Putin felt deceived by the Russian military, which has resulted in ongoing animosity between Putin and his military leadership.

“We believe Putin is being misled by his advisers about how poorly the Russian military is doing and how sanctions are crippling the Russian economy because his senior aides are too terrified to tell him the truth.”

The top US official stated that the decision to make the material public was taken to demonstrate to the world that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “strategic miscalculation.”

According to a second official: “It may be beneficial. Does it foment discord among the ranks?