A FORMER commander of the Russian Army has broken ranks and publicly criticised Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine for the first time.
Vladimir Chirkin, ex–commander-in-chief of Russia’s Ground Forces, openly acknowledged the failure of the Kremlin’s initial invasion strategy.
He said Russian intelligence had assured the leadership that 70 per cent of Ukrainians would support Russia and only 30 per cent would resist.
“In reality, it was exactly the opposite,” Chirkin said.
This, he argued, was one of the key reasons the planned “three-day blitzkrieg” collapsed.
Chirkin admitted that Russian forces “underestimated the enemy and overestimated themselves” which contributed to the failed attempt to seize Kyiv and the eventual retreat.
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He placed blame for the failed campaign on “the entire Russian intelligence community”.
He also criticised former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, claiming he tried to “save face” after the humiliation by calling the withdrawal a “gesture of goodwill”.
According to Chirkin, the Kremlin’s belief that it could “take Kyiv in three days” reflected what he called “Tbilisi Syndrome”.
This is a reference to Russia’s five-day war with Georgia in 2008.
Following these inflammatory remarks, Ukrainian political journalist Denys Kazansky said that comments of this kind never have been said at such a high level before.
“Chirkin effectively acknowledged the failure of the ‘special military operation’ and said Putin entered the war unprepared because he misjudged the situation, which resulted in heavy losses,” Kazansky wrote on X.
In Russia, publicly criticising the war effort can be punished with up to 15 years in prison.
Since 2022 Russian authorities have increased efforts to silence dissent.
Dozens of independent media outlets and activist groups have been designated “foreign agents” and “undesirable organisations”.
This move effectively outlaws their activities and criminalises cooperation with them.
Amnesty International reported that more than 21,000 people were punished in 2022 for criticising the war or sharing information deemed false by the state.
These revelations come amid news that a Russian known as Dr Evil, and accused of brutally torturing Ukrainian prisoners, has been charged with war crimes.
Ilya Sorokin, 34, who is only a doctor by name, became notorious among survivors from Prison Colony No. 10 in Mordovia.
According to investigators, Sorokin subjected Ukrainian detainees to electric shocks, severe beatings, and degrading sexual abuse.
The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police have now gathered evidence against him.
The SBU reports that Sorokin often pretended to conduct a medical examination before attacking prisoners with a taser, leaving some unconscious or temporarily paralysed.
He is also accused of other forms of cruel medical mistreatment.
Sorokin’s identity was first uncovered by independent journalists working with dozens of exchanged Ukrainian prisoners of war.
For now, Dr Evil remains on Russian territory, and Ukrainian security services continue efforts to locate him and bring him to justice.