A Russian MP left a mouthpiece of Vladimir Putin speechless as he conceded on state TV that the nation 's military had run out of enough weapons to win the war Russia started with Ukraine.
Andrey Kartapolov, former army officer of the Russian Army, baffled Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov with the stunning admission on live television today.
The duo had a tense exchange on the programme, in which Mr Solovyov asked "How are we supposed to win?".
The conversation is the latest sign of cracks within the Kremlin's inner circle, as Vladimir Putin, 70, comes under unprecedented pressure from his own allies.
And in the TV show, Mr Solovyov raged at reports that new conscripts "don't have enough uniforms and the training grounds aren't even ready".
He pressed Mr Kartapolov, 58, why the conscripts were being asked to buy their own helmets and armour, asking: Where is everything?"
Mr Kartapolov agreed with the TV host and said "the lying" at the top of the military "has to stop".
He continued: "We can call up any number we want, but that is not the point.
"What's more important is to be able to supply and equip the people who are called up."
Mr Solovyov asked: "Why can't we trash the infrastructure of the Nazi Ukraine? So trains aren't running, and there is no electricity."
The former Russian general responded: "There aren't enough munitions today in order to complete all tasks.
"So the most important tasks are prioritised according to the defence ministry."
When Mr Solovyov asks how Russia can still expect to win the war, Mr Kartapolov said Russians needed to fight like their grandparents in World War Two.
Julia Davis, a columnist for the Daily Beast, tweeted the exchange, adding: "State Duma Defense Committee's head Andrey Kartapolov told a disappointed propagandist Vladimir Solovyov that aside from not having enough uniforms and equipment for its forces, Russia may not have enough munitions to destroy all of Ukraine's infrastructure."
