Russian colonel reveals army's biggest weakness and what Putin 'fears' most

A former Russian Lieutenant Colonel revealed to the Express what Vladimir Putin "fears most" about the war in Ukraine, highlighting a critical vulnerability in the Kremlin's military strategy.

Sergey Gulyaev, who served for many years as a high-ranking officer in the Soviet army, spent two years with the 58th Automobile Brigade in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Since leaving the army, he has become a political activist, a vocal Putin critic, and a well-known journalist.

Mr. Gulyaev remains connected to a Russian veterans' group composed of former soldiers with service records spanning from Afghanistan to Chechnya and beyond. Through these connections and having relatives currently fighting in Ukraine, he maintains close ties with officers and soldiers in the Russian army.

In May, Putin's forces opened a new front in Ukraine's Kharkiv province, sparking speculation about the Kremlin's intentions to capture Ukraine's second-largest city. However, Gulyaev believes the primary focus of Russia's summer military offensive lies elsewhere. He argues that Putin and his generals aim to secure full control over the Donbas, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, which Russia illegally annexed in September 2022.

A crucial supply and logistics route for Putin's forces in the south is the 12-mile-long Kerch Bridge, connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland. 

Gulyaev told the Express that the bridge is the Achilles' heel of the Russian army, predicting that Kyiv will undoubtedly target it once the Kremlin resumes its southern offensive. "A bridge is a very vulnerable thing in general," he explained. "It can be hit from all sides: from the water, the air, with long-range missiles, and even small drones.

"It's just a matter of time. I am absolutely sure that when the offensive begins in the Zaporizhzhia region, the first thing Ukraine will do is try to cut off supplies through Crimea. It's the quickest delivery route for ammunition and weapons needed to capture Zaporizhzhia.

"Cutting off these supplies will have severe consequences for Putin and will significantly impact the situation. This is what they fear most."

The Kremlin relies on the Kerch Bridge to channel military supplies and equipment from Russia to Crimea and then to its forces in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. For Russia's generals, this is the fastest and most efficient resupply method for their southern frontlines. Consequently, the bridge is a prime target for Ukraine, which recently acquired US-made ATACMS missiles with a range of 300 km (186 miles).

These longer-range missiles will make it much easier for Ukraine to target and potentially destroy the bridge. Although Kyiv has already attempted to disable the bridge twice, causing substantial damage, it has yet to completely decommission it.