US President Donald Trump was right in assessing Russia’s prospects in the war against Ukraine, convicted in Russia as a terrorist and war criminal Igor Girkin (also known as Strelkov) wrote on Telegram, in a post published by his wife, Miroslava Reginskaya.
On September 23, the White House chief wrote on Truth Social that Ukraine can reclaim all occupied territories and that Russia’s economy faces bleak prospects.
“I read Trump’s latest statement (extremely harsh toward Russia), in which he said Ukraine can defeat Russia because Russia turned out to be a ‘paper tiger,’ along with all his other epithets aimed at us. And unfortunately, I can’t help but agree with him on a number of points,” Girkin said.
“Indeed, to wage war for three and a half years against a country that everyone expected would collapse in three days, or at least three weeks — that takes some doing. Especially when it wasn’t expected from a country with such vast potential, such a long military history, significant military traditions, and a sizable army,” he noted.
The Russian war criminal then asked: “Will anyone ever be held accountable for the fact that we went to war with parade-ground, ‘biathlon-and-Park Pobedy’ troops? Will anyone be held accountable for the reckless plans, completely out of step with the real operational situation, that led to serious defeats, setbacks and enormous losses?”
Girkin said that in three years of full-scale war, Russia not only failed to capture all of Ukraine as planned, but also lost the Black Sea Fleet’s capabilities, while Ukraine is striking not only along the front lines but deep inside the Russian Federation.
He expressed outrage that on September 8 the Kremlin leader awarded Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov the Order of Courage.
“And for what, one might ask? For our troops advancing at the speed of a good turtle in certain sectors, only to surrender the same territory during enemy counterattacks? Or for the fact that, by general assessment, we are a year to a year and a half behind the enemy in the number, specialization, range and specifications of UAVs?” Girkin said.
He argued that Russia needs to end the war, but claimed that doing so is not in the interests of its “partners” (without specifying whom he meant).
“If we can’t win the war, then maybe we really should get out of it? The question is that the ‘partners’ won’t allow it. We need to think about how to force the ‘partners’ to exit the war, to force them to agree to this. If we’re unable to force them, then questions arise that are no longer for the military leadership,” Girkin hinted.
“Overall, I assess the situation as extremely difficult, with a persistent trend toward deterioration. Unfortunately, I see no prospect of a quick victory over Ukraine - none at all. Because nothing is being done to prepare for that victory,” he concluded.
