Two top Russian colonels have been secretly recorded insulting Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine and the retreat from Kyiv, it is claimed.
Russia failed to make the quick gains that was anticipated following the invasion of its neighbour that began on February 24 - and it has turned into a war of attrition.
Ukrainian fighters have battled for every inch and it led to a change of strategy from the Russians who withdrew from the north and an assault on the capital Kyiv, to instead concentrate in the more pro-Russian eastern regions close to the border.
Now they are pummeling the city of Sievierodonetsk as they aim to take full control of the province of Luhansk.
And two top Russian military officials Colonel Maksin Vlasov and Colonel Vitaly Kovtun have blasted the failure to take Kyiv in an alleged bugged call by Ukrainian intelligence services.
“A f***ing rocket should fly into (Ukraine’s Parliament) in Kyiv. That’s it f*** it. Why didn’t (a rocket) f***ing fly? I don’t f***ing get it, you’re f***ed, Putin motherf*****,” Kovtun said, reported the Daily Beast.
“Why didn’t a rocket fly into Kyiv…. Something hasn’t been done the right way.”
The alleged call was broadcast by Radio Free Europe’s Ukrainian service and is believed to have taken place on April 14.
The two military men also attacked the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu who Vlasov called “incompetent” and he said that their army had made “horrible losses”.
Russian forces have lost thousands of soldiers and many top brass in the fighting with claims that there has been poor strategy and a lack of organisation.
While Ukrainian fighters have shown determination and willingness to die for the cause, Russian soldiers have appeared to have low morale.
In the recorded message Vlasov and Kovtun were heard to agree that the war is being led by “bootlickers” and they criticised the poor salaries of the soldiers.
They are reported to be given 30,000 rubles (£381) a month.
“(There are) no contracted forces. Of course not! Why would there f***ing be? They paid them 30,000 rubles (£381), where are they going to get contractors?” Kovtun reportedly said.
Meanwhile, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has said Putin "is now hurling men and munitions" at Sievierodonetsk, "as if taking it would win the war for the Kremlin. He is wrong."
Thousands of residents remain trapped in the city and Russian forces are advancing towards its centre, but slowly, regional governor Gaidai said.
Russia's advance could force Ukrainian troops to retreat across the river to Lysychansk, he added.
Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid agency which had long operated out of Sievierodonetsk, said he was "horrified" by its destruction.
Up to 12,000 civilians remain caught in crossfire, without sufficient access to water, food, medicine or electricity, Egeland said.
"The near-constant bombardment is forcing civilians to seek refuge in bomb shelters and basements, with only few precious opportunities for those trying to escape," he said.
There were few reports of major shifts elsewhere on the battlefield. In the south, Ukraine claimed to have pushed back Russian forces to the border of Russian-held Kherson province.
Moscow took control of Kherson in March and residents there have staged protests against Russian occupation.
Mobile and internet access in Kherson were shut down on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said, blaming Russia for disconnecting cables.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said troops there were fighting on "despite the fact the Russian army has a significant advantage in terms of equipment and numbers."
