Posted on 05/17/2022 4:10:59 AM PDT by tlozo
A Russian defence analyst has condemned how the invasion of Ukraine has panned out, admitting virtually the "whole world" is against it and warning Kyiv can mobilise a million troops.
Mikhail Khodaryonok, a retired colonel, told Russian state TV they should not take "information tranquillisers" and dismissed notions that the Ukrainian army is becoming demoralised.
Speaking with the show's host Olga Skabeyeva about suggestions some Ukrainian units were struggling for funding and arms, Mr Khodaryonok says: "The situation from the overall strategic position is that the Ukrainian armed forces are able to arm a million people.
"They're saying it themselves, that 'for us, there’s no difficulty in mobilising a million people'.
"The whole issue is to what extent they're able to supply this army of modern weapons and military hardware."
He says if Ukraine had no help, it would struggle to do that, but with foreign help they will be equipped in the "near future", massively expanding Kyiv's forces.
Mr Khodaryonok goes on to say the situation will "frankly, get worse".
Ms Skabeyeva then puts it to him that the newly-called up recruits will not be as effective as the professional army.
But Mr Khodaryonok retorts that their use will be determined by the quality of their training, morale and their readiness to "shed blood for the homeland".
"A conscript army can be highly professional too," he explains.
"A desire to protect one's homeland, in the sense that it exists in Ukraine, it really does exist there. They intend to fight to the last man."
When Ms Skabeyeva intervenes again to mock the idea that a "desire to die" could be branded "professionalism", Mr Khodaryonok says it is one of the most important components of an army's readiness.
Attention then turns to Finland's bid to join Nato, a clear geo-strategic failure for Vladimir Putin, who said his desire to stop any further eastward expansion of the military alliance – and roll it back westward – was one of the triggers behind his invasion of Ukraine.
Instead, it sent Helsinki into the arms of the west, fearful of its future security as a neighbour of Russia.
Vague threats about sending missiles to the Baltic region have emerged from Russia over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the alliance.
Speaking about the broader, global picture, Mr Khodaryonok says: "Don't engage in sabre-rattling with missiles in Finland's direction. It actually looks quite amusing.
"After all, the main deficiency of our military-political position is that, in a way, we are in full geopolitical isolation, and that, however much we would hate to admit this, virtually the entire world is against us.
"It's that situation that we need to get out of."
Russian media coverage of the war has been heavily censored and sanitised, with the Putin regime refusing to call it a war, and instead use the term "special military operation".
It has been opaque about its casualties and brutally cracked down on dissent, forcing media outlets to close if they refused to comply with censorship and arresting protesters throughout the country's cities.
However, Russia's failures in the invasion have proved hard to spin at home for some Russians.
Its humiliating retreat from Kyiv, the sinking of the Black Sea Fleet flagship the Moskva and unexplained fires at key military-industrial targets throughout Russia have hampered attempts to spin the invasion as a success.
This should be an entertaining thread.
"Its humiliating retreat from Kyiv, the sinking of the Black Sea Fleet flagship the Moskva and unexplained fires at key military-industrial targets throughout Russia have hampered attempts to spin the invasion as a success"Let's add Kharkiv to the list. But Colonel, I must admit it hasn't hampered any spin here at FR.
;0)
This is above ground. Imagine the discussions that are going on quietly among the Generals and the OllyGarks.
Julius Ceasar said, “Let him be promoted — and removed.” of a pesky guy he wanted removed.
Likewise, I predict Pooty will have his surgery, have an unexpectedly ong recovery, and then be given a big medal as a hero of Mother Russia, and be retired.
He will not go back to the office.
Ever.
He has become “inconvenient.”
Stalingrad. Six million Russians died and the city flattened.
They were not demoralized. The invading foreigners were demoralized after a million russian troops died 40,000 civilians but the will to defend their homeland was too strong. The Germans were defeated and went home and no longer cared why they were there. The thousand year Reich lasted barely lasted 12 years.
Russia is playing the crazy hitler role now. Poland would be worse.
Well, WE have an inconvenient ‘leader’, too. HE gets to stay and keep his office while the stupid MSM and all of the US Congress kisses his dumb a*&!
1.1 million that battle and afteath. Fact checked myself.
Yep, get the deckchairs and popcorn out! He’s also the second senior Russian military brain to say it in the last 48 hours.
Putin’s already arresting the FSB nuts who told him it’d be all over in days and Ukes would welcome Russia with flowers and songs.
He’s also arresting the propaganda -swallowing armchair commanders who’ve failed to deliver his victory.
I smell an exit strategy. Just waiting now for the inevitable revelation that Putin was sold a total pup by Yanokovych from day one and his Russian stooges have been milking it for years; that the FSB fell for it; and that his apparent chum in Belarus is actually trolling the Kremlin elite by being the world’s biggest sycophant while mobilising all his best troops as far away from Ukraine as he can.
Ten bucks says Lukashenko nominates himself as the only sensible head in the Russian orbit, capable of getting Russia out of this ness.
Yes I know how bonkers that sounds, but the Soviet mentality is nuts enough for it to actually happen.
Wait, so Russia allows on someone who slams official policy but Ukraine has just banned all opposing parties?
And which one is the “dictatorship?”
“Russian invasion slammed on state TV as ex-colonel blasts failures”
“This station will now take a neck...er...station break.”
Please stop the bs. Ukraine DID NOT BAN ALL OPPOSING PARTIES, they banned the pro-Russian parties funded by the Kremlin, while being invaded by Russia.
What color is the sky in your clown world?
Lol, I guess reporting what a russian said on russian state tv is misinformation to a Pootie fan like you.
LMAO
Ya think?
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