Budanov providing intel that is not accurate - is a big problem. He sound like, he is not getting accurate intel.
For ops within Ukraine.
There are in general, 3 levels of Russian troops in Ukraine.
1st level or conscripted - mostly unemployed who are swept up with criminals and men laying about. These troops are generally “first wave.”
2nd level are regulars
3rd level are professional specialists
The Russians raising Federation flags, are usually level 3, sometimes level 2.
Moscow shifts around, the concentrations of levels 2 and 3.
Level 1 is wasted and their chances of battlefield rescue (if wounded) are a mixed bag, but usually left behind.
Russian losses are high, but level 3 losses correlate to signficant damage to Ukraine forces *who are not prepared - unaware because of poor intel.*
What’s Budanov got to do with the story? It comes direct from Ruxzian sources.