Putin has made himself a 'laughing stock', says Russia's former vice-president trends now
Vladimir Putin has made himself a 'laughing stock' after he surrounded himself with 'absolutely incompetent' military chiefs ahead of the war in Ukraine, Russia's former vice-president has said in a scathing attack on the Russian President.
Alexander Rutskoy, a former Soviet general, accused Putin of 'senselessly' killing tens of thousands of Russian soliders who have been used as cannon fodder in the war.
Rutskoy, who served as deputy to President Boris Yeltsin, said Putin's invasion of Ukraine should never have been launched.
'If the armed forces do not have the ability to conduct strategic offensive operations, then it is better not to try, especially outside your own country,' Rutskoy said.
Alexander Rutskoy, a former Soviet general, accused Putin of 'senselessly' killing tens of thousands of Russian soliders who have been used as cannon fodder in the war
He added: 'Everything happening today is explained by the fact that our armed forces are not able, I emphasise, to conduct strategic offensive operations.
'Why….? For a quarter of a century the armed forces have been led by incompetent, absolutely incompetent people.'
'The result is the carnage in Ukraine where Russia has suffered losses which one estimate puts at 175,000 in less than a year,' Rutskoy said.
'This is a tragedy for our country,' said Rutskoy, the only man ever to occupy the post of Russian vice-president. 'This is a tragedy, because people are dying.
'People are dying senselessly, although the slogan is 'Defend Russia'. Where are they defending Russia? What are they dying for….? Who has the right to take a father away from his children?
'Who gave the right to take away sons from mothers and fathers? Nobody….'
Rutskoy, who served as deputy to President Boris Yeltsin, said Putin's invasion of Ukraine should never have been launched. Pictured: Rutskoy (right) with Putin (centre)
He referred to Russian
