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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Dan Sabbagh and David Smith

Putin advisers ‘afraid to tell him truth’ about Ukraine error, says GCHQ head

Vladimir Putin sits at a large desk in a meeting with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev (not seen) in Moscow on 22 February.
Western security officials say they believe Vladimir Putin is not receiving accurate information from his subordinates on the status of the war. Photograph: Russian Presidency/Anadolu/Getty

Vladimir Putin has made a strategic miscalculation in launching the invasion of Ukraine and his advisers are “afraid to tell him the truth” about the extent of his error, the boss of British spy agency GCHQ said in a speech on Thursday.

Sir Jeremy Fleming, in a speech given in Australia, said the Russian leader had misjudged the strength of Ukrainian resistance, the western response and the ability of his forces to deliver a rapid victory.

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