More officials in Putin's inner circle urge him to end the war, Ukraine's intel chief says
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Suspilne that an increasing number of officials within Putin's inner circle are urging him to end the war against Ukraine.
Budanov said that even before the full-scale invasion, many officials in the Russian leadership expressed doubts about the war's rationale, including officers from the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
Currently, the number of voices around Putin calling for an end to the war is growing.
"A lot. Very many. And more than before," Budanov said.
When asked whether these voices are increasing despite Russia's advances on the front, he attributed it to the war's cost.
"So what is the price of this advancement? Do you even realize roughly how much one day of war costs? It's expensive, even by Russia's standards, which spares nothing for war," he added.
Putin's orders were sabotaged
Last week, The New York Times reported that former Deputy Chief of the Russian Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak refused to follow Putin's orders during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Instead, Kozak expressed disagreement and suggested alternative approaches, including ending the war and implementing domestic reforms. He also told Putin he was ready to be arrested or executed.
A month ago, Russian outlet Agentstvo reported that before resigning, Kozak sent Putin a letter sharply criticizing the war in Ukraine.
