Russian General: Intel Failed on Ukraine War

What’s Happening Col. Gen. Vladimir Chirkin, a prominent former Russian general, has publicly delivered a scathing indictment of his country’s intelligence community. He declared he would give “the entire Russian intelligence community” a failing grade for their performance regarding the Ukraine invasion. Chirkin specifically pointed out that Moscow’s leadership was “unprepared” for the conflict. This lack of readiness stemmed from being seriously misled, with intelligence suggesting an astonishing 70% of Ukrainians supported Russia’s actions. ## Why This Matters Such a fundamental intelligence failure has profound implications for the entire military operation and its strategic planning. Misjudging the will of the Ukrainian people led directly to a severe miscalculation of resistance and the conflict’s duration. This glaring disconnect between intelligence assessments and on-the-ground reality likely contributed to initial operational setbacks and ongoing challenges. It points to a deep internal flaw in how information is gathered, analyzed, and presented to top decision-makers. - It highlights potential systemic issues within Russian intelligence, questioning its reliability and objectivity.

• This public criticism from a high-ranking former official could fuel internal debates and potentially lead to accountability measures or purges.
• The monumental miscalculation of Ukrainian support directly impacted Russia’s invasion strategy, leading to a much tougher, more prolonged conflict than anticipated. ## The Bottom Line Col. Gen. Vladimir Chirkin’s blunt assessment reveals a critical vulnerability at the heart of Russia’s strategic decision-making. If leadership was truly fed such flawed information, it raises serious questions about the integrity of their intelligence apparatus and its impact on the war. Who is ultimately responsible for this catastrophic intelligence failure?