Putin is meddling in Army decisions as Ukraine drive his army back to the border -
way - 17-05-2022
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10823033/Putin-meddling-colonel-Russian-president-making-tactical-decisions-troops.html
Vladimir Putin is dictating on-the-ground troop movements in Ukraine as his army falters, according to Western military sources.
General Valery Gerasimov is also said to be making similar tactical decisions, micro-managing the war in minute detail which would normally be overseen by a colonel.
'We think Putin and Gerasimov are involved in tactical decision-making at a level we would normally expect to be taken by a colonel or a brigadier', said a Western military source, according to The Guardian.
The same source said that Russian battalion tactical groups (BTGs) had been 'battered', adding: 'If Putin is doing the job of a brigade commander' then 'he could be delving into a force that could be as small as 700 to 1,000 soldiers'.
Putin's soldiers have so far failed to achieve their military objectives in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been attempting to mount a breakthrough in order to encircle Ukrainian troops in the Donbas region.
Officials believe Putin's decision to take personal control of on-the-ground troop movements could be contributing to the military failures.
Radio jamming has forced Moscow to send more battalion leaders to the front line in order to communicate with their troops, only for Ukrainians to take advantage by killing Russia's generals - with 12 confirmed dead.
The news comes after Ukrainian soldiers became the country's first to reach the Russian border after retaking Kharkiv from occupation.
Ukraine’s ministry of defence said on social media that the 227th Battalion of the 127th Brigade of its military had reached the border with Russia, marking the closest Ukrainian soldier's have come to their neighbour since it was invaded on February 24.
On Monday, one of Putin's top propagandists has declared Russia's offensive in the Donbas region has failed as incredible pictures show the inside of the steel plant at Azovstal which has been under siege for much of the war.
Russian intelligence officer and commander Igor Girkin took to his Telegram channel to summarise the situation for Russian forces in Ukraine and said their intention was 'so obvious' that Ukraine Armed Forces have been able to resist.