Mikhail Khodarenok Retired Russian Colonel

The following candor by a retired Russian Colonel points out the need for all of us as leaders to not get so isolated that we think the information we want to be right is really right.

We need to remind and educate our clients on the need for broad intelligence input so we can make informed decisions that will not get our businesses in the position that Putin has put Russia in.

Normally Russia’s mainstream media outlets only give views of the Ukraine war that Putin wants out.  What we see outside of Russia, in the world media, paints a completely didn’t report on the Ukraine war that is unlike anything seen from inside the country. They don’t call it a war but a Special military Operation.  

This was a rare program to get broadcast on the Russian Program 60 Minutes, a one-hour show, which is one of the primary tools Putin uses twice a day to shape the news in his view.

 Normally this is a studio discussion that promotes the Kremlin line on absolutely everything, including on President Putin’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Putin and the Kremlin still maintains that the Russian offensive is going according to plan.

But on Monday night, studio guest Mikhail Khodarenok, a military analyst and retired colonel, painted a very different picture.

 I Quote. “He warned that “the situation [for Russia] will clearly get worse” as Ukraine receives additional military assistance from the West and that “the Ukrainian army can arm a million people”.

 Referring to Ukrainian soldiers, he noted: “The desire to defend their motherland very much exists. Ultimate victory on the battlefield is determined by the high morale of troops who are spilling blood for the ideas they are ready to fight for.

 “The biggest problem with [Russia’s] military and political situation,” he continued, “is that we are in total political isolation and the whole world is against us, even if we don’t want to admit it. We need to resolve this situation.

 Colonel Khodarenok

“The situation cannot be considered normal when against us, there is a coalition of 42 countries and when our resources, military-political and military-technical, are limited.”

 There were other guests in the studio who set in silence. Even the host, Olga Skabeyeva, normally a fierce support of Putin appeared oddly subdued.

In many ways, it’s a case of “I told you so” from Mr. Khodarenok. Writing in Russia’s Independent Military Review back in February, before Moscow attacked Ukraine, the defense analyst had criticized “enthusiastic hawks and hasty cuckoos” for claiming that Russia would easily win a war against Ukraine.

 One thing is certain is that any country who thought they could work with Russia, as they were somewhat civilized, has changed their mind. One current example is Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

Now it is coming out, from captured Russian soldiers, that Russian commanders are shooing their own wounded soldiers who are unable to walk instead of getting them medical care.  As a Veteran that is hard for me to wrap my mind around such evil.

Many former Soviets Bloc country leaders are warning that if Putin is not stopped in Ukraine he will keep advancing and some see him attacking more then one country at a time. From what I understand from history and Putin’s desire to rebuild the old Soviet Union I do not think that is an idle speculation.

We need to keep our eye on the target and maintain diligence in our intelligence gathering to ensue we have up to date information for our client to make the right decisions.

Until next time be safe

Phil