🚨 Why Igor Girkin’s prison letters matter
One of Putin’s own warlords is openly declaring Russia’s war in Ukraine a failure. Who is Girkin, what does he say, and why will he probably die in prison? Let’s break it down 🧵
1/6 Who is Igor Girkin?
🇷🇺 Girkin (aka Strelkov) isn’t just another prisoner. He’s a former FSB officer, one of the architects of Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, commander of Donbas “separatists” (word used loosely), and tied to the MH17 shoot-down that killed 298 civilians.
One of Putin’s own warlords is openly declaring Russia’s war in Ukraine a failure. Who is Girkin, what does he say, and why will he probably die in prison? Let’s break it down 🧵
1/6 Who is Igor Girkin?
🇷🇺 Girkin (aka Strelkov) isn’t just another prisoner. He’s a former FSB officer, one of the architects of Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, commander of Donbas “separatists” (word used loosely), and tied to the MH17 shoot-down that killed 298 civilians.
2/6 Why his words matter
From prison, Girkin writes that Russia’s “SMO” has failed. Moscow can’t defeat Ukraine, can’t hold Kherson or Zaporizhzhia, and faces either capitulation or total war. That’s open defiance of Kremlin propaganda.
From prison, Girkin writes that Russia’s “SMO” has failed. Moscow can’t defeat Ukraine, can’t hold Kherson or Zaporizhzhia, and faces either capitulation or total war. That’s open defiance of Kremlin propaganda.
3/6 Nationalist, Not a liberal critic.
Girkin is no opposition democrat. He’s a hardline nationalist who once led the war to carve up Ukraine. When he says the war is doomed, it pierces straight through the Kremlin’s lies, pointing out Putin is failing.
Girkin is no opposition democrat. He’s a hardline nationalist who once led the war to carve up Ukraine. When he says the war is doomed, it pierces straight through the Kremlin’s lies, pointing out Putin is failing.
4/6 Putin’s red lines
In today’s Russia, even ultra-hawks can’t criticize the war. The Kremlin tolerates no dissent. Girkin’s blunt honesty crossed Putin’s invisible line and that’s a death sentence in itself like Yevgeny Prigozhin and Navalny before him.
Pic: Yevgeny Prigozhin and his plane hit by an Air Defence missile after a coup attempt in 2023
In today’s Russia, even ultra-hawks can’t criticize the war. The Kremlin tolerates no dissent. Girkin’s blunt honesty crossed Putin’s invisible line and that’s a death sentence in itself like Yevgeny Prigozhin and Navalny before him.
Pic: Yevgeny Prigozhin and his plane hit by an Air Defence missile after a coup attempt in 2023
5/6 The prison warning
Russian jails are silent execution chambers. I know, I’ve experienced them. Accidents, sudden illness, torture or poisoning are the regime’s way of erasing critics. Girkin himself admits he may not survive.
Pic: Navalny, another critic and opposition leader murdered by Putin
Russian jails are silent execution chambers. I know, I’ve experienced them. Accidents, sudden illness, torture or poisoning are the regime’s way of erasing critics. Girkin himself admits he may not survive.
Pic: Navalny, another critic and opposition leader murdered by Putin
6/6 — The irony
Girkin once served Russia’s imperial project. He even admitted to rounding up “Crimean Deputies” at gunpoint during Russia’s takeover of Crimea. Now he’s trapped by the very system he helped build. His prison letters expose not only Russia’s military failures, but Putin’s fear of the truth. That’s why Igor Girkin will likely die in prison.
Girkin once served Russia’s imperial project. He even admitted to rounding up “Crimean Deputies” at gunpoint during Russia’s takeover of Crimea. Now he’s trapped by the very system he helped build. His prison letters expose not only Russia’s military failures, but Putin’s fear of the truth. That’s why Igor Girkin will likely die in prison.
Just to expand on the comments from Former Donbas separatist commander and FSB Officer Igor Girkin-Strelkov, responsible for the 2014 invasion of Ukraine:
•“The current ‘SMO’ format is exhausted and can’t deliver victory over Ukraine. Moscow’s push for new ‘borders’ proves it.
•Abandoning Kherson & Zaporizhzhia shows the Kremlin can’t win on the battlefield. Costly tactical gains mean nothing.
•Kyiv won’t concede unless defeated and our forces cannot defeat them.
•The choice: capitulation or total war.
•For now, the Kremlin just drags out time, waiting for orders from Beijing.
•Without a revolution in leadership, this war is doomed to catastrophe.
•“The current ‘SMO’ format is exhausted and can’t deliver victory over Ukraine. Moscow’s push for new ‘borders’ proves it.
•Abandoning Kherson & Zaporizhzhia shows the Kremlin can’t win on the battlefield. Costly tactical gains mean nothing.
•Kyiv won’t concede unless defeated and our forces cannot defeat them.
•The choice: capitulation or total war.
•For now, the Kremlin just drags out time, waiting for orders from Beijing.
•Without a revolution in leadership, this war is doomed to catastrophe.
• • •
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