Russia Ukraine war, page-110463

‘Vladimir Putin is 'terribly scared' as he marks the first anniversary of his invasion of Ukraine, says an ex-Russian secret services general.

The Russian dictator has badly misread the West's resolve to stand up to him, and did not realise his army's incompetence, according to the former chief of the Moscow division of the FSB.

'Putin perfectly understands the mood of people who have lost everything because of him,' said retired General Yevgeny Savostyanov. 'He understands this anger can find a way out, so he keeps them away.

'Putin is now terribly scared. He understands that he is in trouble,' he said.

Putin's problems were self-inflicted by going to war, he added. 'He lived happily [yet] with his own hands, he took and ruined everything. Amazing story.' Now, he is 'in such a psychological state that he is clinging to any opportunity to win'.’