Ukraine 'turning the tide' against 'exhausted' Russian forces, says GCHQ head
The head of Britain's GCHQ intelligence agency will say that Ukraine is successfully "turning the tide" against the "exhausted" Russian forces, who are running out of ammunition, in a speech later today.
GCHQ boss Sir Jeremy Fleming will say that the Russian people are beginning to understand just how badly Mr Putin and his "flawed" decision-making have misjudged the "courageous reality of the Ukrainian defence".
"So, far from the inevitable Russian military victory that their propaganda machine spouted, it's clear that Ukraine's courageous action on the battlefield and in cyberspace is turning the tide," he will say.
"Russia's forces are exhausted"
Giving the annual security lecture for the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the defence and security think tank, the intelligence chief will say that Russian "gains are being reversed" at a "staggering" cost to Moscow in terms of people and equipment.
"We know – and Russian commanders on the ground know – that their supplies and munitions are running out," Sir Jeremy will say, according to an excerpt from his speech shared in advance.
"Russia's forces are exhausted. The use of prisoners to reinforce, and now the mobilisation of tens of thousands of inexperienced conscripts, speaks of a desperate situation."
Watch: Russian troops seen in video reportedly surrendering from tank in Kherson.
He will add that "the Russian population has started to understand that too".
"They're seeing just how badly Putin has misjudged the situation. They're fleeing the draft, realising they can no longer travel.
"They know their access to modern technologies and external influences will be drastically restricted. And they are feeling the extent of the dreadful human cost of his war of choice."
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