If I recall correctly, Vladimir Chirkin (commander-in-chief of Russian ground forces 2012-2013) said that in the 27 November 2025 interview with Yuri Tamantsev on RBC. I went back to verify it, but the entire interview is now missing from both RBC's website and Tamantsev's YouTube channel as well. Only a reupload of the first segment can be found on another YouTube channel.
If I recall correctly, Vladimir Chirkin (commander-in-chief of Russian ground forces 2012-2013) said that in the 27 November 2025 interview with Yuri Tamantsev on RBC. I went back to verify it, but the entire interview is now missing from both RBC's website and Tamantsev's YouTube channel as well. Only a reupload of the first segment can be found on another YouTube channel.
Gen. Oleg Salyukov is/was the ground commander.
I don't believe he's made this statement ever.