Putin has already “strategically lost” the war in Ukraine, says the head of the British armed forces

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin branded Russia a “weaker power” and said Vladimir Putin had lost 25% of Russia’s land power for only “tiny gains”.

Britain’s armed forces chief says Russia has already “strategically lost” the war in Ukraine and is now a “weaker power”.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said Vladimir Putin lost 25% of Russia’s land power for only “tiny” gains.

While Russia could achieve “tactical successes” in the coming weeks, he said any notion that the war was a success was “nonsense.”

Admiral Radakin, the chief of Britain’s defense staff, said Russia is running out of troops and advanced missiles and will never be able to take over all of Ukraine.

Admiral Radakin spoke to the PA news agency when he visited Scotland on Wednesday, where he met soldiers at Edinburgh Castle.

He said: “This is a terrible mistake by Russia. Russia will never take control of Ukraine.

“Russia has already lost strategically. NATO is stronger, Finland and Sweden want to join.”

He said Russia had been forced to abandon its goals of taking over most of Ukraine’s cities and was now engaged in a tactical battle where the fight was “tough”.

Admiral Radakin said: “The Russian machine is dragging and gaining a few – two, three, five – kilometers every day.

“And that’s tough for Ukraine, but it’s going to be a long fight. And we support Ukraine, Ukraine has shown how brave it really is.

“And Russia has vulnerabilities because it’s running out of people, it’s running out of high-tech missiles.”

He continued, “President Putin used about 25% of his army’s power to gain a tiny piece of territory and 50,000 dead or injured.”

Russia is now a “weaker power” diplomatically and economically than it was a few months ago, he said.

The Chief of Defense Staff continued: “Any notion that this is a success for Russia is nonsense. Russia fails.

“There could be some tactical successes in the last few weeks. And that could continue for the next few weeks.

“But Russia is losing strategically.”

Admiral Radakin said he was in touch with his Ukrainian counterpart, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who recognized they were engaged in a “tough battle” in the east.

Admiral Radakin said: “They are brave people.

“They are brilliant people when it comes to how they take the fight to the Russians.

“But they’re also honest people who say they actually need help.”

He said the UK will continue its support for Ukraine and “we are in it for the long haul”.

Earlier this week, Ukraine’s presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak called on the West to help his country achieve “heavy arms parity” with Russia in the war – and called for more heavy artillery, missile systems and vehicles.

Admiral Radakin said he was “cautious” about phrases like parity, as no single ability would determine the outcome of the war.

Britain is supplying MLRS missile systems and has just supplied 120 armored fighting vehicles, he said.

He said: “We have deployed anti-tank weapons, there are other elements that we are deploying and that will continue.

“But it is the mass provided by the entire international community – and this alongside the courage and determination of the Ukrainian armed forces to fight for their territory.

“Therein lies true parity and therein lies Ukraine’s true strength.”