[Skybird]

The Neue Zürcher Zeitung on that Russian ex-Colonel's appearance on TV:


Khodaryonok's appearance on the state television talk show is astonishing. Although the host, Olga Skabeeva, attempts to rebut some of his statements, she is unsuccessful. Nor is Khodaryonok shouted down or constantly interrupted, as is usually the case with unruly statements on Russian television. Russia expert Janis Kluge of the German think tank called Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik assumes that Khordaryonok's appearance was approved from above. The station will not have been surprised by his statements. After all, Khordaryonok had already been critical of a possible invasion of Ukraine before the war began.

Khordayonok published an essay three weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in which he predicted the course of the war with astonishing accuracy. He predicted that an invasion of Ukraine could not be successfully completed quickly. He noted that the Ukrainian army had become much more powerful in the last eight years and that Ukrainian soldiers could not be defeated as quickly as in 2014.

Khordayonok also predicted the difficult house-to-house fighting in Ukraine's major cities and predicted very accurately the nature of Western support. For example, he explicitly addressed the U.S. World War II Lend-Lease Act, which allows for rapid arms deliveries to Ukraine. This was passed by Congress in late April. He concludes his essay with a clear statement: "An armed conflict in Ukraine is not in Russia's national interest."
Khordayonok plays the role of skeptical expert

Earlier, Chordajonok also played the role of the skeptical expert on television, dampening enthusiasm for the war. Just before the Russian military parade on May 9, he said that a general mobilization would do little good. Khordayonok pointed out in no uncertain terms that only well-trained soldiers and the latest technology would give Russia an advantage. Moreover, he said, Russia lacks the necessary resources to quickly turn the war in Ukraine in Russia's favor.

Thus, the TV station was aware of Khordayonok's views. It can be assumed that he was invited not in spite of his views, but because of them. Why Russian propaganda is now presenting a more nuanced picture of the Ukraine war to its own population remains unclear. However, it cannot be assumed that Khordayonok's appearance was unplanned.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)