Putin in rush to claim victory, says defence chief

PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin is trying to rush to claim victory in Ukraine as Russian forces continue to struggle for momentum, the head of the British military has said.

In an interview with TalkTV’s The News Desk, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, said there was “incredible pressure” in Russia for the campaign to deliver results.

After 10 weeks of fighting, however, he said the rate at which Russian forces were using missiles and other armaments meant Mr Putin was engaged in a “logistics war” to keep them supplied.

“He potentially has a problem, because the rate of expenditure and the toughness of the fight is totally different to the one that he perceived on February 24,” Admiral Radakin said.

“We’re talking severe impact on their armed forces. We’ve had 25% of their forces effectively being taken out – either through people being killed or through the damage to their battalion tactical groups.”

While there were “real risks” the Russians could gain ground in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine – the new focus of their offensive – he said they had little time to make the improvements needed after they were driven back from the capital Kyiv.

He said the Russians were in for a “hard slog” and questioned whether the “rushed manner” in which Mr Putin was seeking to achieve victory would succeed.

“I think what we’re now seeing is incredible pressure – political pressure and military pressure – for a victory,” he said.

“This is going to be a tough fight. And it’s going to carry on being a tough fight. This is going to be a hard slog.”