Ex-Russian diplomat: “Incompetent generals fight with Soviet artillery”
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Russian ex-diplomat «Incompetent generals fight with Soviet artillery»
Boris Bondarew (41) started out as a Russian diplomat in Geneva – until the war in Ukraine began. He believes the Ukrainian army will march through.
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Boris Bondarev says Vladimir Putin has maneuvered himself into a dead end.
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He believes Ukraine’s recent advance is more than a snapshot: Incompetent generals fought for Putin with Soviet-era weapons.
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Bondarev was a counselor at the Russian UN mission in Geneva. When the war in Ukraine began, he resigned and fired live shots at Putin.
Mr Bondarev, in May you resigned from the diplomatic service after 20 years – in protest. They are ashamed of Putin’s war of aggression. Where do you get so much courage from?
When our tank crossed the border into Ukraine on February 24th, it was clear to me that I had to go. I didn’t want to be part of this senseless war. It was like Geneva attacking Bern.
Do you still dare to eat from a buffet?
If you’re referring to my safety, I haven’t received any threats. But I remain cautious.
The war has been going on for over half a year now. Are you surprised by Ukraine’s advance in the east?
no Thanks to Western help, the Ukrainian armed forces are very capable. Many thought that the Russian army was much stronger, claiming that they had sophisticated high-precision weapons. Now it turns out: Incompetent generals fight with artillery weapons from Soviet times – and with as many soldiers as possible.
What options does Vladimir Putin have now?
He has been under pressure since the first day of the war. He wanted to hoist the Russian flag in Kyiv and bring Russia back to its former glory. He should be the hero who repeats the actual success of the Crimean annexation – always with the aim of securing power. But he miscalculated: he overestimated the capabilities of his army and he underestimated the resistance of Ukraine and its allies. Russia will lose the war, it’s only a matter of time.
Putin might see things differently.
I’m not sure if he understands the reality. But his situation is uncomfortable. This also shows the desperate act of buying weapons in Iran and, of all places, in North Korea! Putin will have to explain why he led his country in a suicidal war.
Fearless ex-diplomat
Boris Bondarev lives in Switzerland. Because the ex-diplomat raised his voice against Putin, he cannot return to Russia. The Swiss authorities ensure safety for him and his family. According to his own statements, he no longer even has a mobile phone.
Will the mood in Russia change if Putin cannot show successes quickly?
The atmosphere is already very tense. Putin’s strongman image is getting scratched. The nationalist camp criticizes him for being too soft. Another group condemns the war. The vast majority suppresses the problem, but still because they have several problems themselves. Money worries for example.
Some local politicians are now speaking out against the war. What’s the point?
It will not overthrow Putin. But these voices are important and they are getting louder. They make it clear that Putin himself is a threat to Russia’s very existence.
With his back against the wall, will Putin resort to nuclear weapons?
We should consider all scenarios. It’s not impossible, but not very likely either. Putin likes luxury, life in the palace. But he’s not fundamentally a kamikaze type who sacrifices himself for an ideology. What’s more, if he were to order a nuclear strike in Ukraine, it would take a lot of people to carry it out. Nevertheless, NATO must have a scenario in case the aggressor drops nuclear bombs on Ukraine.
Ukraine is not a NATO country. There are voices that wish each other because a confrontation is too risky. You can let Putin have the East.
I consider this policy of appeasement to be extremely risky. Putin must understand that he is losing. He can no longer choose between a good and a bad ending. A defeat without nuclear escalation would also be an important signal because one would see that possessing nuclear weapons alone does not make one omnipotent.
Fear of an energy crisis is raging in Europe. How important is this weapon for Putin?
It’s his last resort and he’s already using it. Europe can survive this crisis. My impression is that people here are quite resistant to cold – even more so than in Russia. In addition, the main suppliers of arms are the USA and Great Britain. And they are far less dependent on Russian gas than continental Europe.
Did the West actually make mistakes in dealing with Russia?
Putting a card on the gas. At the time, Nord Stream 1 and 2 were considered a smart idea, and Russia was a reliable partner. Nobody could have imagined that Putin would go nuts. A second mistake was the reaction to the annexation of Crimea: if the West had reacted as sharply then as it does now, including this war, Putin might not have either.
Suppose Russia wins the war, but still and conquers large parts of Ukraine. What would that mean for the West, NATO?
It would mean that NATO is a toothless construct. Above all, it would not mean that the war is over. A win is good, but not enough. Putin would have to sell something to the population again: Moldova, Kazakhstan, the Baltic states or maybe even Finland?
How important are the coming days? Is world history now being decided?
We are at a turning point in history. For the first time in centuries, the threat of nuclear war is real. Some in the world may think this is a minor European conflict. But nothing less than the world order is at stake.
The map shows the situation at the front:
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