Vladimir Putin's military leaders 'horrified' at new offensive planned for February, claims expert

Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have asked his top Army general Valery Gerasimov, in charge of the Ukraine war, to prepare and launch a new offensive from all directions.

New offensive from all directions

Russia has been struggling to realize its objectives in Ukraine and has been either on the defensive or retreating from its previously gained territories.

According to the Daily Mail, since the beginning of the conflict eleven months ago, Russia has lost more than 175,000 soldiers.

Despite this, Vladimir Putin is said to have ordered Valery Gerasimov, the top general in charge of the Ukraine War, to prepare and launch a new offensive from all directions.

Valery Solovey, a former professor at Moscow's prestigious Institute of International Relations and a political analyst, claimed on the pro-opposition Khodorkovsky Live channel that Putin’s request has terrified the military leaders:

The Army General Staff is terrified by the instructions of the commander-in-chief [Putin]. I am not exaggerating. They are horrified.

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Terrified commanders

Express reports that Putin’s army commanders know that there is little to no hope of winning and that a new offensive in Ukraine would end up in the slaughter of their soldiers. However, they would rather accept that than disobey Putin:

They are afraid to lose the remaining armed forces in the slaughter that they are being dragged into by [Putin's] order. Well, they saluted - As you wish, Your Highness, you're the genius, you know it better than us, you started it all, and our job is to sort it out now.

According to Solovey, this new offensive is planned for February and the Russian commanders are afraid they do not have time because Ukraine might get new modern, and dangerous weapons from the West.

There is a last chance to launch a Russian offensive but not with the aim of winning, Solovey says. It is not about retaking lost territory but rather securing the territories that Russia still has under their control such as the Donbas region and Crimea:

The goal is totally different - to end it in an honourable way. That is, to achieve peace.

It's about keeping a minimum of [Russian gains]. That is Donbas, a part of new territories - not all of them, and to defend Crimea. They are not expecting more.

Sources used:

-DailyMail: ‘Russia's military commanders are 'terrified' by Putin's demands for new offensive on multiple fronts in Ukraine and fear 'mass slaughter' and 'are giving up hope' of winning the war, experts claim’

-Express: ‘Russia's top commanders 'terrified' by Putin's new battle plans as 'hope of winning' falls’