Not even Lavrov knew: how Putin tore his country into the Ukraine war

Putin is said to have started the war against Ukraine with complete hubris.

Apparently, the President did not inform important confidants.

Munich/Moscow - For many, the morning of February 24, 2022 represented a turning point. Exactly one year has passed since Russia attacked Ukraine in the night and the "special military operation", as Vladimir Putin calls the invasion, began.

The Russian President not only surprised the world public, but also his own Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.

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For a long time, Putin left his Foreign Minister Lavrov in the dark about whether the invasion of Ukraine would take place.

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The

claims to have found that despite months of preparation by the military in the Ukrainian border region, Lavrov was caught on the wrong foot by ordering the attack.

Only days before the invasion of Ukraine, Putin asked for an assessment of whether the two separatist regions in the Donbass should be recognized as states at a Security Council meeting that was broadcast on television.

Lavrov was one of the few briefed by Putin before the invasion

But even the spectacle on state TV did not give any definitive information as to whether an invasion could take place or not.

Lavrov is also said to have received no further information about the actual start of the Ukraine war in advance.

But this is not unusual, as the

writes.

Often the Russian foreign minister was not informed by Putin about his intergovernmental policy.

Putin only discussed Russian foreign policy with a few close confidants, it said.

Specifically, according to the report, information about the impending attack was only given on February 23.

After all, he was informed about the procedure earlier than others.

Many members of the Russian government and Russian oligarchs only found out about the attack on Ukraine after Putin's announcement of the "military special operation".

Russian oligarchs stunned by Putin's invasion - 'Peter the Great is his confidant'

On the day of the invasion, a meeting between Putin and the oligarchs is said to have taken place, the

reports , citing a person who is said to have been on site.

The Russian businessmen entered the meeting angrily, amazed that the Russian President could have planned such a large operation with a small staff.

Shortly before the meeting, the big businessmen met Lavrov, the

source reports.

The oligarchs are said to have asked the then 71-year-old how Putin planned the invasion.

"He has three close friends: Ivan the Terrible.

Peter the Great.

And Catherine the Great,” Lavrov reportedly said in a meaningless reply.

"Putin can't stand the truth" - Around 150,000 Russians killed or wounded

Putin's plan was to invade Ukraine with a bloodless blitzkrieg and conquer Kiev in a few days.

A year has passed and the Russian military has lost around 150,000 soldiers dead or wounded, according to information from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army on February 24.

In its report, the

writes that it spoke to six former Russian officials who are said to have worked closely with Putin.

In the course of the first year of the war, Putin became more and more isolated.

“The difference between Putin and Stalin is: Stalin always learned the truth and was able to solve problems.

Putin can't stand the truth," an official reportedly

told the

Increasing isolation: Putin only listens to his closest confidants

Since the corona pandemic and until today, Putin has isolated himself more and more.

An advisor is said to have convinced Putin that he was following in the footsteps of Peter the Great and that he would be remembered much like the tsar in the future.

Ever since Volodymyr Zelenskyy took office as President of Ukraine, Putin has become fixated on Ukraine.

Putin's circle of power in the Kremlin - the confidants of the Russian President

Putin's circle of power in the Kremlin - the confidants of the Russian President

His longtime friend and representative of the largest pro-Russian party in Ukraine, Viktor Medvedchuk, is said to have convinced the Russian president that the Ukrainian people would welcome the Russian army with open arms, the FT

.

Putin has been told lies from all sides, which is why he is said to have misjudged his own army and the situation in Ukraine.

Already in March of last year, many military experts shared this thesis, as

reports.

Putin overestimated his power - Russia shot down its own jets and helicopters

Putin overestimated his position and the power of his allies.

The

writes that Medvedchuk boasted about his network in Ukraine and made promises to Putin.

After the invasion, this network fizzled out.

Medvedchuk's agents defected to Ukraine and even informed the Ukrainian military about Russia's strategy.

Another example of the Russian army's poor coordination are the reports that Russian soldiers shot down their own helicopters and jets.

Until July last year, Russian anti-aircraft guns shot down their own jets,

writes.

The German Climate Protection and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) was only informed about the imminent invasion by the US Embassy on the eve of February 24.

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