Russia has “strategically lost” the war in Ukraine and is a “smaller power,” the head of the United Kingdom’s armed forces said.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said Vladimir Putin had lost 25% of Russia’s land power by only “small” gains.
And while Russia may achieve “tactical successes” in the coming weeks, it said any idea that the war would have been a success was “nonsense.”
Admiral Radakin, who is the head of the UK defense staff, said Russia was running out of advanced troops and missiles and could never take over all of Ukraine.
His comments come when Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace told Sky News that the United Kingdom “most likely” will add hundreds of more troops to a NATO force in Estonia tasked with further deterring Russia.
Admiral Radakin said: “This is a terrible mistake by Russia. Russia will never take control of Ukraine.
“Russia has already lost strategically. NATO is stronger, Finland and Sweden want to unite.”
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He said Moscow had been forced to give up its goals of seizing most Ukrainian cities and was now in a tactical battle where the fighting was “tough”.
Image: Admiral Sir Tony Radakin
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Admiral Radakin said: “The Russian machine is being crushed and is gaining a couple of -two, three, five- kilometers every day.
“And this is difficult for Ukraine, but this will be a long struggle. And we are supporting Ukraine, Ukraine has shown how brave it really is.
“And Russia has vulnerabilities because it is running out of people, running out of high-tech missiles.”
He continued: “President Putin has used about 25% of the power of his army to gain a small amount of territory and 50,000 people killed or wounded.”
Russia is now a “smaller power” diplomatically and economically than it was a few months ago, he said.
“Any idea that this is a success for Russia is nonsense. Russia is failing.
“He may be having some tactical successes over the last few weeks. And these could continue for the next few weeks.
“But Russia is losing strategically.”
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Admiral Radakin said he was in contact with his Ukrainian counterpart, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who acknowledged that they were in a “tough battle” in the east.
The Secretary of Defense admitted on Friday to Sky News that Russian troops outnumbered Ukraine in artillery fire by 20 to 1 in some areas.
But Wallace told Sky Defense and Security Correspondent Deborah Haynes that as the Allies began supplying Ukraine with long-range artillery and rocket systems, they could soon make “significant progress in the east of the country.”
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And Admiral Radakin paid tribute to the Ukrainians. “They are brave people,” he said. “They are witty about how they are fighting the Russians.
“But they are also honest people, who say they need help.”
He said the UK would continue to support Ukraine and “we are in this long term”.
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Earlier this week, Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak called on the West to help its country achieve “parity in heavy weapons” with Russia at war, calling for more heavy artillery, rocket systems and vehicles.
Admiral Radakin said he was wary of phrases such as parity, as no single ability would determine the outcome of the war.
The UK provides MLRS rocket systems and has just delivered 120 armored combat vehicles, he said.
He said: “We have been providing anti – tank weapons, there are other elements that we are providing and that will continue.
“But it is the mass that provides the entire international community, and it puts it on the side of the courage and determination of the Ukrainian armed forces to fight for their territory.
“That’s where the real parity lies and where the real strength of Ukraine lies.”