Russia: Putin’s days in office numbered after Kremlin insider warned: ‘Beginning of end!’ | World | News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has tried to rally his soldiers after he said he aims to end the war with Russia “quickly”. Speaking yesterday, Mr Zelensky urged the West to continue supplying weapons so that his men can “inflict maximum damage” on Russian forces. He added: “The more losses the occupiers suffer, the sooner we will be able to liberate our land and ensure the security of Ukraine. “This is what everyone who defends our state and helps Ukraine should think about – how to inflict the greatest possible losses on the occupiers in order to shorten the war.”
Despite Russia’s military superiority, Ukraine has managed to prevent the invading force from achieving many of its objectives throughout the course of the conflict.
It is now thought that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be feeling the weight of the pressure from within his own political circle.
Jack Barsky, a former sleeper agent of the KGB who spied on the US from 1978 to 1988, and later switched sides to provide intelligence for Washington, believes Putin’s days in power are now numbered.
Speaking to CBS News in March, just a month after the invasion began, Mr Barsky shed light on how the Kremlin operates under the authoritarian rule of Putin.
He warned that the Russian despot’s failings in Ukraine could be the “beginning of the end” for his time in power.
Mr Barsky said: “Assuming that he can survive this, assuming there isn’t a sort of coup against him — so long term, he’ll be in trouble if this keeps going like this, if more soldiers keep dying.
“He’ll have an Afghanistan on his hands,” referring to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
He continued: “And as you know, Afghanistan was the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union — and Ukraine may become the beginning of the end of Putin as a dictator.”
Mr Barsky also discussed what is motivating Putin’s imperialistic ambitions, citing the collapse of the Soviet Union as a pivotal moment in the life of the Russian President.
Putin was serving in the KGB at the time, and was stationed in East Germany when the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989.
Mr Barsky said that, at this point, Putin “went from being a member of the most powerful organisation, living the good life in East Germany, to somebody who was completely helpless, defending that position.”
READ MORE: £4bn in UK military aid helps Ukraine turn tide on Putin’s horror war
A key battle is taking place for the city of Kherson, a city seized by Russia in March.
Armed with more advanced weaponry, Ukrainian forces have struck a Russian airbase in occupied Crimea.
Satellite images appeared to show the extent of the damage, with Kyiv’s air force claiming that nine aircraft were destroyed.
The pictures came from US-based earth imaging company Planet Labs.
