His appearance on Russian state television was sensational. Because: Military expert Mikhail Chodarjonok expressed criticism of the Russian warfare in Ukraine. Now he relativizes his statements.
A few days ago, a military expert surprised many people with an astonishingly pessimistic war forecast on Russian state television, which is actually loyal to the Kremlin. Now Mikhail Khodarjonok has publicly backed down. To believe that Ukraine could launch a counterattack is “a great exaggeration,” said the 68-year-old on Wednesday evening on the “60 Minutes” show.
The political talk show, this time titled “Achievements of the Russian Air and Space Forces,” was the same one in which Khodaryonok said just Monday that the Ukrainian armed forces were far from disintegrating nearly three months after the start of the war.
Khodaryonok: Russia can “targetedly detect” foreign weapons
In addition, the former Russian general staff officer now explained with a view to the further goals of the Russian army: “The basis for this is that the realization of these projects will unpleasantly surprise the Ukrainian side in the near future.” Presenter Olga Skabeeva, who repeatedly interrupted Khodaryonok in the last program, this time let him finish for several minutes without interruption.
While Khodarjonok recently emphasized the strong will to fight of the Ukrainian soldiers and their rearmament by the West, he now emphasized that Russia’s armed forces were deliberately tracking down and destroying foreign weapons. “Soon only memories will remain of the American howitzers,” he said. The editors later displayed these words again in the program as a large quote board.
The programs of the Russian state television are considered the mouthpiece of the Kremlin. Critical opinions are largely eliminated from the public. A relatively new law also provides for up to 15 years in prison for alleged “false news” about Russia’s armed forces.
Many viewers were all the more astonished earlier this week when they heard Khodaryonok speak in the Russian media about “info tranquilizers” in connection with the Ukraine war and about “the fact that the whole world is against us”.
