A Russian commander has called on Putin to stop the war in Ukraine, in the latest sign of growing dissent in the Kremlin’s army. Putin’s troops have suffered horrendous casualties in just over three years of fighting, while struggling to make major territorial gains.
Ukraine’s army estimates that the Russians have suffered more than 988,000 casualties – including injured and killed – during the bloody war. Despite sustaining some of its heaviest losses in the campaign last year when at least 45,287 soldiers were killed, Putin’s army succeeded in taking just 0.6% of additional ground. Now a Russian commander has spoken out about the s endless slaughter, urging the Russian leader to strike a peace deal with Ukraine.
The senior officer is serving with a unit on the frontline near the town of Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk region.
Part of the region including Sudzha was seized by Ukrainian troops last August, who have since been forced to retreat after their supplies lines were cut off.
The commander gave an interview to the Russian military blogger known as Maxim Kalashnikov on condition of anonymity.
Asked by Kalashnikov what he was prepared to do to achieve victory over Ukraine, the officer bluntly replied: “I would stop the war altogether. Unfortunately this war won’t end until we completely stupidly kill each other.
“They are like us. They won’t give up and we won’t give up. This will continue until we kill or maim each other and then the third enemy will come and kill both of us.
“When you asked me a question about what I would do, I would just say: ‘That’s it! Stop!'”
Kalashinkov’s real name is Vladimir Kucherenko – a Russian nationalist agitator who has often praised the Soviet Union.
On his Youtube channel, he often discusses the so-called threat posed by Nato to Russia and the likelihood that this antagonism will result in a nuclear war.
Kalashnikov said he agreed with the overall conclusions of the senior officer, and blamed Putin’s failure to plan a proper “blitzkrieg” in 2022 as the reason for the current slaughter.
“We needed a blitzkrieg in 2022, but it wasn’t prepared. As a result, it turned out like C21st Verdun. With a huge number of losses.
“There are now so many bodies lying around in the Kursk region alone. In this case the liberation campaign makes no sense. Those we want to liberate will hate us.
“Well it is impossible to continue this mass slaughter when nothing can be changed strategically, by and large.”
In an ominous warning to Putin, he added: “A break is needed to fix something overall. We need to stop in Ukraine, or we will be left without an army.”
