UK spy chief: Russian soldiers are refusing to carry out orders in Ukraine

A destroyed Russian military vehicle is seen on a road on the outskirts of Trostyanets, Ukraine.
(Image credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

New intelligence out of Ukraine shows that some Russian troops are refusing to carry out orders, even going so far to sabotage their equipment, Jeremy Fleming, head of Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), said on Wednesday.

The spy chief shared the information during a speech at the Australian National University in Canberra. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin "massively misjudged" the capabilities of his military, adding, "We believe Putin's advisers are afraid to tell him the truth."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.