Russian President Vladimir Putin’s revolving door of generals “probably” indicates fractures in the Kremlin and disagreements among top officials as the war in Ukraine enters its 11th month.
“The continued turnover of senior Russian officers likely reflects internal divisions regarding the Russian Defense Ministry’s future conduct of the war,” a British Defense Intelligence update stated on Friday.
The report followed rumors that Lt. Gen. Yevgeniy Nikiforov is “likely in the process of assuming command” of Russia’s Western Group of Forces.
Nikiforov previously served as Chief of Staff of the Russian Eastern Group of Forces, meaning he was reportedly involved in planning and executing the disastrous attempt to advance on Kyiv in the initial phase of the invasion, according to the British Ministry of Defense. .
XI AND PUTIN SEEK GREATER COOPERATION, BUT RUSSIA’S FAILURES IN UKRAINE MAY STRESS RELATIONSHIP, SAYS EXPERT
The report also noted that Nikiforov would be “at least” the fourth commander of the Western groups since the start of the invasion, replacing Colonel General Sergei Kuzovlev, who served only three months in his post.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov attend a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on February 27.
(Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERS)
The failure to decisively end the conflict has seen Russia and Ukraine enter their 11th month of fighting with little end in sight. Russia has begun to run low on ammunition, seeking help from Iran and North Korea to replenish rocket and artillery ammunition before possibly running out of ammunition in early 2023.
PUTIN’S THUG ARMY: RUSSIA DEPLOYS FOOTBALL HOOLIGANS TO UKRAINE AS WAR LASTS
A senior US military official told reporters earlier this month that Russia’s “fully serviceable” munitions are “rapidly dwindling” and will likely force them to rely on weapons with “degraded condition.”
The Grand Kremlin palace, left, and the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Russia announced the start of a withdrawal of some forces after drills raised alarm in the United States and Europe over a possible military attack against Ukraine.
(Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Britain has continued to support Ukraine with direct arms supplies and a training program that aims to better prepare defense forces to protect their homeland.
RUSSIA’S LAVROV FRONTLY REJECTS ZELENSKYY’S CONDITIONS FOR ‘PEACE FORMULA’
Rebekah Koffler, president of Doctrine and Strategy and former Director of National Intelligence, wrote in an opinion piece for Fox News Digital that “the probability of a peace agreement remains extremely low.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, attends the Victory Day military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II in Moscow on Monday, May 9, 2022.
(Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via AP)
“Moscow, Kyiv and Washington, the key stakeholders in the current war, hold irreconcilable positions while pursuing unattainable goals,” Koffler wrote.
“Putin, despite tactical setbacks on the battlefield, insists that the West recognize Crimea, which Russia invaded in 2014, and four other recently annexed territories in eastern Ukraine, as Russian,” he explained. “This is not a start for the US or Europe, as such a concession would be tantamount to giving Putin victory.”
However, it also argues that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “continues to pursue unrealistic war goals” including full territorial integrity and compensation for the destruction of the nation, alongside key Russian officials and soldiers to face a court of law. the International Criminal Court.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“The Russians have a very high tolerance for casualties, having sacrificed more than 20 million during World War II,” Koffler stressed. “Unless Washington intervenes and forces Zelenskyy to negotiate an end to this bitter and devastating stalemate, Putin will fight to the last Ukrainian standing.”
Fox News Digital’s Caitlin McFall and Liz Friden contributed to this report.
