Ukrainians should brace for a war of “attrition” with increased civilian deaths as Vladimir Putin resorts to “reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower”, a top British general warned tonight.
Speaking on day 23 of the Russian invasion, the UK’s Chief of Defence Intelligence said the Kremlin had been “surprised by the scale and ferocity of Ukrainian resistance” and “bedevilled with problems of its own making”.
General Jim Hockenhull said its tactics had changed and Moscow was “now pursuing a strategy of attrition”.
He warned: “This will involve the reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower.
“This will result in increased civilian casualties, destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure and intensify the humanitarian crisis.”
He also accused Putin of stepping up his propaganda war and deceiving Russians about troop deaths.
Gen Hockenhull said: “Putin has reinforced his control over Russian domestic media.
“The Kremlin is attempting to control the narrative, hide operational problems and obscure high Russian casualty numbers from the Russian people.”
Boris Johnson today spoke to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and promised more defensive weapons to the country, a day after the UK announced it will send anti-aircraft missiles to Poland.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister reiterated his disgust at Russia’s barbaric actions in Ukraine and his admiration for the steadfast resistance of the Ukrainian people in the face of tyranny. He said the entire United Kingdom stands with Ukraine.
“The UK intends to provide and committed to work with allies at next week’s NATO meeting to step up military support to Ukraine.
“They also discussed progress in ongoing peace talks. The Prime Minister offered his support for Ukraine’s position in negotiations and the President said the UK’s close involvement was highly valued. The UK will continue to exert pressure at all levels to oppose Putin’s act of aggression, including through sanctions, lethal aid and diplomatic action.”
Russia has sustained heavy casualties so top brass are drafting in replacements, including from the “eastern military district” and mercenaries, according to a Western official.
“They're looking at forces in the Pacific fleet, they are looking at Armenia, they are also looking at private military companies,” said the official.
“We have seen reports of Chechen forces and Syrian mercenaries being recruited as well.
“They are trying to make good those losses.
“The challenge of course they will have is integrating those - that rather slightly odd mix of different groups and forming that into an effective fighting force.
“They have struggled with the effectiveness of their force with their troops which they are training with, used to operating together.
“Bringing just more people to the fight won’t necessarily provide a panacea to the problems they have been facing so far.”
The official warned that cities could be subjected to weeks of pounding by Russian heavy guns.
Moscow could mount an “artillery bombardment for a very, very considerable period of time”, depending on intensity and ammunition supplies, they said.
The official added: “Those bombardments could be very intense.
“The scale of artillery assets that have been made available to the forces on all of the strategic directions are really, really considerable.
“There is also an awful lot of artillery in reserve across Russia.”
However, attempts to encircle the capital Kyiv were being “frustrated” by Ukrainian resistance, they added.
