Ex-Russian General Criticizes Russian Intelligence Community for Ukraine Invasion

A former top commander of Russia's ground forces openly criticized Moscows handling of the Ukraine war, calling the intelligence services' performance in early 2022 "unsatisfactory."

Col. Gen. Vladimir Chirkin, who led Russia's ground forces from 2012 to 2013, told Russian radio outlet RBC on November 27 that the Kremlin was "once again unprepared" for war. He argued that Russian intelligence misrepresented political sentiment in Ukraine, misleading the leadership before the full-scale invasion.

"In February 2022, everyone believed the war would last only a few days, that we would quickly prevail," Chirkin said. "It did not happen that way. I would assign a failing grade to the entire Russian intelligence community."

The generals statements, which are unusually blunt for a senior Russian military figure, were highlighted in Ukraine by journalist Denis Kazanskyi.

Chirkin noted that Russia has a history of misjudging conflicts, often underestimating opponents while overestimating its own capabilities. "I do not wish to single anyone out, but Russia was unprepared for war, as it has been historically," he added.

He also revealed that Russian officials were misled into believing 70% of Ukrainians supported a pro-Russian government, when the actual figure was closer to 30%. "During the early weeks, we faced a harsh reality check," he said.

Chirkin attributed part of the early difficulties to the so-called "Tbilisi syndrome," in which troops hesitate to act without explicit orders, affecting operational efficiency.

His critique mirrors assessments by Western and Ukrainian analysts, who concluded that Russia underestimated its ability to capture Kyiv. Logistical problems, troop confusion, and failure to secure air superiority forced Russian forces to withdraw from the capital region by late March 2022.

RBC interviewer Yuri Tamantsev expressed surprise at Chirkins openness. "I did not expect such frankness at the start of our discussion," he said.

Despite Russias strict laws against sharing "false information" about the war, which can carry severe penalties, Chirkin did not directly challenge the Kremlins justification for the invasion. The remainder of his interview focused on the evolution of Russian military tactics and potential paths to achieving Moscows objectives.

Chirkin was removed from command in 2013 over bribery allegations. Convicted of accepting a bribe in 2015, he received a five-year labor sentence that was later commuted, and his rank was eventually reinstated.

Author: Ethan Caldwell