Ukraine: Putin insider admits that the Russian offensive was slower than expected

LONDON (Reuters) – Russia’s National Guard commander and close confidant of Vladimir Putin, Viktor Zolotov, admitted that Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine is not progressing as quickly as originally planned by the Kremlin, contrary to official Russian statements so far.

“I would say yes, everything is not going as quickly as we would like,” Viktor Zolotov said on Sunday on the sidelines of a mass celebrated by Patriarch Cyril, head of the Russian Orthodox Church. Russian National Guard.

“But we are moving step by step towards our goal and victory will be ours,” added the former bodyguard of Vladimir Putin.

International observers have been saying for several days that Russia, which they believe intends to invade Ukraine quickly after launching its attack on February 24, has been thwarted by resistance from Ukrainians and Westerners’ ability to impose sanctions on its office, which it has downplayed.

But Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday repeated to Vladimir Putin that “everything is going as planned” in what Moscow describes as a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Viktor Zolotov blamed the Russian military’s slow progress in Ukraine on what he described as far-right Ukrainian militias using civilians as human shields, echoing accusations regularly made by Russian authorities.

(Reuters reporting, edited by Guy Faulconbridge, French version by Myriam Rivette, edited by Bertrand Bossy)