Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat, said in an interview published on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's "luck is over" amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
Bondarev quit his role in Russia's mission to the United Nations (U.N.) in May over Russia's invasion of the Eastern European country, stating in a resignation letter that the war is "not only a crime against the Ukrainian people, but also, perhaps, the most serious crime against the people of Russia."
Speaking about the Russian leader in an interview with Sky News, Bondarev said: "I think the 20 years of him in power have been very lucky for him. He is not smart, he is just lucky. Now I think his luck is over."
The former diplomat said that he also believes Putin would be willing to "sacrifice 10 or 20 million Russians just to win this war just to slaughter all Ukrainians because it's a matter of principle. It's a matter of political survival to him."
"You have to understand that, if he loses the war, it will be the end for him," Bondarev added.
The former diplomat said that if Putin loses the war, "he will have to explain to his elites and his population why it is so and he may find some problems in explaining this."
Bondarev's comments come as Russia has faced recent losses in the southern region of Kherson, which it has occupied since its invasion in late February. According to a report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) last week, Russia is "likely setting information conditions to justify planned Russian retreats and significant territorial losses in Kherson Oblast."
The ISW added that Russian forces are planning to launch a "false-flag" attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, which is less than 50 miles east of the city of Kherson.
"The Kremlin could attempt to leverage such a false-flag attack to overshadow the news of a third humiliating retreat for Russian forces, this time from western Kherson," the ISW said. "Such an attack would also further the false Russian information operation portraying Ukraine as a terrorist state that deliberately targets civilians."
Last week, Putin also declared martial law in the four Ukrainian regions that Moscow annexed illegally, including Kherson. The development came amid news of Russian troops retreating from some occupied areas.
Following the declaration, a Russian state TV guest said the country could face "severe" territory losses in the coming months.
"It's important for us to endure, I don't want to give anyone any illusions, but we'll have to persevere, gritting our teeth through November, and I'm afraid, part of December. There won't be any good news in the next two months," Russian war correspondent Alexander Kots said last Wednesday.
On Sunday, Russian officials and state media said Ukraine is planning to use a dirty bomb on its own territory so that it can blame Russia, and use the attack to galvanize opposition against the Kremlin.
However, Christopher Fettweis, a professor of political science at Tulane University, told Newsweek on Sunday that Russian public opinion is "turning against" Putin and that the claims of the Ukrainian attack are likely aimed at raising fear against Ukraine.
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministries for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Xander Landen is a Newsweek weekend reporter. His focus is often U.S. politics, but he frequently covers other issues including ... Read more
