Igor Girkin said Russia should focus on 'preventing the Armed Forces of Ukraine from encircling and destroying large formations of our troops.'
Igor Girkin, a former commander of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, said on Saturday that Ukrainian troops have"already won" the war against Russia.launched his invasion of the Eastern European country on February 24, and was met with a strong defense effort from Ukraine, which was bolstered by military aid from its allies. Despite the vast size of Russia's military, Moscow has failed to achieve any major goals.
On Saturday, Ukrainian troops made significant gains near Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine—forcing Russia to retreat from key cities including Izium and Kupyansk, according to Radio Free Europe. Girkin, who also goes by Igor Strelkov, has long been seen as an anti-Ukraine hardliner. However, he acknowledged Ukraine's victory in a Telegram post Saturday.
Above, Igor Girkin, who also goes by Igor Strelkov, delivers a press conference in Donetsk on July 28, 2014. Girkin on Saturday said Russia suffered a “major defeat” after Ukraine retook the city of Kupyansk.He wrote that Russia suffered a"major defeat" in Kharkiv amid reports that Russian troops fled Kupyansk, which has served as a major railway and logistics hub for the Kremlin since capturing the city in February.
"Now, in fact, our side can only talk about how to stop its further deepening and prevent the escalation of an operational defeat into a strategic one," he wrote."Although, in general, it has already outgrown."Battle for the initiative" the enemy has already won. Now we should talk about preventing the Armed Forces of Ukraine from encircling and destroying large formations of our troops."in Izium or face defeat.
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