The journalist noted that the Kremlin is in a panic looking for an additional plan for the occupation of Ukraine, because the blitzkrieg failed.

Grozev announced the panic in the Kremlin and named two scenarios for Putin / photo REUTERS

Russia failed the plan to occupy Ukraine. Now there is panic in the Kremlin, because there is no “Plan B”. The elites openly declare that Russia’s course is crazy, the war must be ended, and repressions have begun in the special services.

This was stated by Bellingcat investigator Christo Grozev in an interview with  the Navalny Live YouTube channel.

Grozev stressed that his previous forecasts regarding the war were justified. Russia failed “Plan A”, which called for military action for a maximum of 10 days, and there is no new plan. This is evidenced by the lack of a second echelon of troops that could make up for losses and prolong the war at the same pace, as well as the lack of food, water and fuel supplies for those military who are now on the territory of Ukraine.

The Russians are happy to retreat, but they are thwarted by the so-called Kadyrov’s barrage units, who have been ordered to shoot at the deserters, and, on the other hand, by Ukrainian troops who are ready to attack in the rear.

“There will be no quick exit, so it is important to understand what is happening inside the Kremlin’s elite, the special services, which have now accepted and understood that it has been proven that” plan A “has failed. There is a standby mode. Daily changes that do not indicate a new strategy,” the journalist says.

Kremlin sources confirmed to Grozev the arrest of the head of the 5th FSB service, Colonel General Sergei Besedin, who was in charge of foreign intelligence, in particular in Ukraine. The FSB also began repressions.

“I don’t see the situation in the Kremlin, which indicates that the war will continue in a week or two. There will be a shift, the question is what,” Grozev said.

According to his forecast, Putin has two options:

• reach an agreement with Zelensky on terms that are much more compromising than were originally announced;
• decide to strike at the civilian population with non-conventional weapons in order to force Kyiv to compromise and show their country the result.

Grozev is inclined towards the first option, arguing this with some signals from Erdogan and Zelensky.

“I thought it was unbelievable, but the latest signals from Erdogan and Zelensky that suddenly there are opportunities for an agreement indicate that Putin most likely understands the dead end of the situation,” Hristo Grozev said.

The journalist notes that if this is the situation in the Kremlin, then it is in Putin’s interests to end the war as quickly as possible. He predicts tangible movement towards a resolution of the conflict in the next two to three days.

(C)UNIAN 2022