August M
Rare criticism from within Russia’s own military establishment has added to pressure on the Kremlin..
According to the Express, separate from the diplomatic manoeuvring, a former senior Russian commander has publicly challenged the Kremlin’s account of the invasion.
Vladimir Chirkin, the ex-commander-in-chief of Russia’s Ground Forces, said Moscow’s original war plan was built on false assumptions provided by intelligence services.
He claimed Russian leaders were told that up to 70% of Ukrainians would support the invasion.
“In reality, it was exactly the opposite,” Chirkin said.
He argued this misjudgement played a decisive role in the collapse of the planned rapid campaign, often described as a three-day operation.
Blame assigned
Chirkin admitted Russian forces had “underestimated the enemy and overestimated themselves”, contributing to their failure to seize Kyiv and their eventual retreat. Responsibility, he said, lay with the “entire Russian intelligence community”.
He also criticised Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, accusing him of trying to “save face” by describing the withdrawal as a “gesture of goodwill”.
The former commander said it had been the belief inside the Kremlin that Russia could “take Kyiv in three days,” the Express noted.
Reaction in Ukraine
Ukrainian political journalist Denys Kazansky responded to Chirkin’s comments on X, saying they amounted to a public acknowledgement of failure.
“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,” he wrote.
The comments mark one of the clearest admissions yet from a senior former figure within Russia’s military that the invasion did not unfold as planned, the Express reports.
Sources: Express, X
