Putin's Forces Heading to Military 'Defeat,' Former Russian Commander Igor Girkin Warns
Putin's Forces Heading to Military 'Defeat,' Former Russian Commander Warns
April 02, 2023 21:00
Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces fighting in Ukraine are heading toward military "defeat," warned former Russian commander Igor Girkin on Sunday.
Putin launched his "special military operation" on Ukraine in February 2022, aiming for a quick victory against his Eastern European neighbor. However, Ukraine responded with a stronger-than-expected defense effort, bolstered by Western aid, that has blunted Russian military gains. After more than a year of the conflict, combat remains concentrated in the easternmost regions of Ukraine, with analysts saying Russia's attempted winter offenses have largely failed.
The floundering invasion has been met with pushback from some of Russia's military bloggers, including Girkin, who rose to prominence during Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea and has been charged with war crimes in Ukraine.
