The war in Ukraine is evolving in ways that Russian President Vladimir Putin may not have expected, not only because of the increasing resistance of the Ukrainian people but also with claims that Russian troops are destroying Russian weaponry.

As a part of their refusal to obey orders from Moscow, Jeremy Fleming, the head of the UK’s GCHQ intelligence, cyber, and security agency, stated on Thursday that Russian troops destroyed their equipment and shot down a Russian aircraft.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine announced a day later that they had recaptured five regions in the Kharkiv province: Oleksandrivka, Fedorivka, Ukrainka, Shestakovo, and Peremoha, as well as a section of the Cherkaski Tyshky town.

Speaking to the Washington Post, Fleming noted that when Putin decided to attack Ukraine in February, he did not take either of these outcomes into consideration.

“It’s clear he misjudged the resistance of the Ukrainian people. He underestimated the strength of the coalition his actions would galvanize. He underplayed the economic consequences of the sanctions regime. He overestimated the abilities of his military to secure a rapid victory,” Fleming said.

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