JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin is 'disputing' Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu, because the war in Ukraine did not go according to plan, the British Armed Forces said, citing reports from Moscow.
As the invasion into Ukraine entered its seventh month, Russia had seized about 20 percent of Ukraine. However, its armed forces have lost tens of thousands of troops, the British Defense Ministry said.
In fact, President Putin is said to have turned to his field commander to get an update on the progress of Russian troops on the battlefield, avoiding the reported General Shoigu being "unconnected".
"Russia's independent media reports recently claimed that due to the problems Russia is facing in its war against Ukraine, (Soigu) is now ruled out in Russia's leadership, with operational commanders giving President Putin a direct report on the course of the war," the UK Defense Ministry said in an intelligence update. reported The National News August 29.
"Russian citizens and soldiers with direct experience of war may regularly mock Shoigu, because of his ineffective and untouched leadership, because Russia's progress has stalled."
"Shoigu has long struggled to address his reputation as a person who lacks substantial military experience, as he spent most of his career in the construction sector and the Ministry of Emergency Situations," the update said.
General Shoigu has served as Minister of Defense of Russia since 2012, making him the longest-serving member of the government.
His absence from the TV screen in Russia has been noticed over the past few months. The Kremlin has denied that he is suffering from poor health.
Last week, General Shoigu claimed the slowdown in Russia's war in Ukraine was intentional, and was driven by the desire to reduce civilian casualties.
Speaking at a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Uzbekistan, he said: "Everything was done to avoid casualties among civilians. Of course, this slowed the rate of attack, but we did it on purpose."
He said the invasion "go according to plan" and "all tasks will be completed".
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