Putin is now allegedly issuing direct orders for the Ukraine front – to the displeasure of his generals?

Created: 09/23/2022, 15:05

By: Stephanie Munk

Vladimir Putin apparently wants to take more control of the war in Ukraine: according to reports, Russia's president is now issuing commands for the front himself.

Moscow - Seven months ago, Vladimir Putin launched his war of aggression in Ukraine.

At the time, many believed that Ukraine had little chance of successful self-defense.

The Russian President apparently also assumed a lightning victory in the Ukraine war.

But far from it.

Most recently, Ukraine apparently recaptured 6,000 square kilometers of its territory in a successful counter-offensive.

The Kremlin seems to be in a panic: first there were retaliatory attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, now occupied areas are to be quickly converted into Russian state territory by means of lightning referendums that are illegal under international law.

Putin also ordered a partial mobilization of his armed forces: he needs more soldiers at the front, and hundreds of thousands of Russians have to report for military service in Ukraine.

Putin also appears to be relying on "a highly unusual tactic for a modern army," according to US news channel CNN.

The president - who is often said to trust hardly anyone but himself - is now said to command some of the generals on the Ukrainian front directly.

For this information, CNN relies on two sources that allegedly had US and Western intelligence information.

Putin is probably using “highly unusual tactics” in the Ukraine war

With the change in the chain of command, Putin was probably reacting to "dysfunctional command structures that plagued the Russian army from the beginning of the war," says the report.

The report agrees with an analysis by the US think tank Institute for the Study of War in late August.

It said that commanders in the Ukraine war would now have to report directly to the president.

In doing so, Putin is bypassing his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who has apparently lost confidence, and the Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.

Does he only trust himself?

Vladimir Putin (centre) with his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.

© Sergei Savostyanov/Kremlin Pool/Imago

Ukraine war: Putin should command commanders himself - soldiers apparently complain about decisions

Putin's direct intervention is apparently not only well received by the Russian generals: According to the CNN source, secret services have intercepted the conversations of Russian officers.

They allegedly complained to friends and relatives about the decisions made in Moscow.

In addition, there is disagreement among the commanders about the right strategy - for example, on which front lines Russia should concentrate its forces, according to CNN, intelligence sources say.

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Ukraine War: Morale in Putin's army appears to be low

There have been frequent reports of poor morale within the Russian army: Soldiers are said to disobey the orders of their commanders and sometimes even shoot their own vehicles to avoid having to go to the front.

Added to this is the poor training of many soldiers and inadequate equipment.

This could help explain why Ukrainian troops were able to recapture so much territory in just a few days in their counter-offensive in early September.

It is questionable whether the partial mobilization for Russia will help: According to experts, it could take months before the 300,000 reservists affected are ready for action.

And many Russians do not want to fight in Ukraine at all costs: they are trying to flee the country before it is too late.