Russian generals painting 'winning war' for Putin - FT
Photo: Vladimir Putin, Russian President (Getty Images)
Russian generals and security services embellish reports on the situation at the front for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He believes that Russia is supposedly capable of defeating Ukraine, according to the Financial Times.
Western officials told the outlet that Russian President Vladimir Putin, under the influence of fake information reaching the Kremlin, is refusing to agree to terms for ending the war that would be favorable to him and are being proposed by US President Donald Trump.
Two unnamed officials said that the Russian military and security services regularly provide Putin with reports that exaggerate Ukraine’s losses, emphasize Russia’s advantages in terms of resources, and downplay tactical failures.
According to them, this optimistic picture painted for the Kremlin leader during military briefings leads him to believe that he can win the war. Putin’s blind faith remains unchanged even though he regularly meets with trusted aides who explain to him how the war is becoming an ever greater burden on Moscow’s faltering economy.
Fake reports about the 'capture' of Kupiansk
Earlier, Russian authorities, including President Vladimir Putin, claimed that their forces had "captured" Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region.
In reality, the situation is exactly the opposite. As a result of successful operations by Ukrainian soldiers, the Russian troops found themselves encircled within the city. Ukrainian forces also cleared several settlements near Kupiansk.
According to current information, more than a hundred enemy soldiers remain in Kupiansk. The clearing of the city is ongoing.
Notably, on December 12, the Skelia 425th Separate Assault Regiment released a video showing how Ukrainian soldiers managed to clear a strategically important neighborhood in Kupiansk of enemy forces.
