A politically and militarily cornered Putin, and a "local nuclear" strike

Mike Eckel has released on Twitter a translated letter from an FSB analyst.  

Events now being reported by UK Defence officials seem to support much of what is written in this letter.

As reported by the BBC,

"UK defence officials have said they believe Russian forces made minimal gains over the past 48 hours, with its troops remaining bogged down by stiff Ukrainian resistance and poor logistical support.
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In a daily intelligence report published by the Ministry of Defence, officials said it is "highly unlikely that Russia has successfully achieved its planned objectives to date".
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It comes as the Chief of the UK's Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, told the BBC that Russian troops had been failing to operate "in a competent fashion", and this was "impacting on morale".
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He added that "those that have been leading the fight for Russia have suffered just terrible losses" since the invasion began. (BBC News :7 March 2022) (my emphasis)

The Twitter feed of Mike Eckel contains images of the letter. 

"Mike Eckel
@Mike_Eckel
this is purportedly a letter leaked by an FSB analyst about the Ukraine war, as published by a well-known Russian whistleblower. It is is very detailed, and very dark: among other things, says the war has to be finished by  June because by then, Russia's economy will be nothing"

 IMAGES OF LETTER: Please download and enlarge to read.

 

What also seems to support the veracity of the contents of this letter are the facts that :-

 

(1) As reported by Rachel Russell,

"Air Marshal Philip Osborn, a former chief of defence intelligence and director at Universal Defence and Security Solutions, said: "Putin's in a corner over the conflict in Ukraine. But that brings with it all kinds of risks as his options are not nearly as clear as they were at the start."
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"He just can't hold that country. I think any nation who thinks it's going to hold a country of 40 million-plus people who just don't want you there regardless of the size is killing themselevs" (Sky News : 6 March 2022) (my emphasis)

(2) As also reported by the BBC,

"US has reportedly given Zelensky secure hotline to Biden
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According to the Times, personnel from US Cyber Command based in the US and Germany are providing intelligence from satellite imagery and electronic intercepts to the Ukrainian military within "an hour or two" of being collected.
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The US has also supplied Ukrainian President Zelensky with encrypted communications equipment, enabling him to call Biden on a secure line, reports the Times. On Saturday, Zelensky held a 35-minute phone call with Biden.
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On Thursday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the US was sharing intelligence with Ukraine "in real time". No further details were given." (BBC News : 7 March 2022) (my emphasis)

And then there is the sudden volte face of Germany.

(3) As reported by MSN (Reuters)  a week ago,

"Germany will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks so it can defend itself against Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday.
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"The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in defending itself against Putin's invading army," Scholz said on Twitter." (MSN (Reuters) : February 27 2022) (my emphasis)

(4) Also of high significance, as reported by AlJazeera,

"Turkey warns against passing of warships from its straits
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Ankara says it is implementing a 1936 pact on naval passage between Mediterranean and Black Sea during war times.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (left) has said that his country warned the international community about passing of warships through the country’s straits since the war between Russia and Ukraine started. 

Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has control over the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and can limit the passage of warships during wartime or if threatened." (AlJazeera : 1 March 2022) (my emphasis)

(5) But critically, as reported by Ted Kemp, Chloe Taylor, Lauren Feiner,

"President Vladimir Putin was “forced to deny reports” that his government will impose martial law in order to stamp out Russian dissent against the war in Ukraine, according to the U.K. Defence Ministry.
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Putin made the denial at an event in Moscow on Saturday local time. Rumors of impending martial law have swirled in Russia for days as the Kremlin tries to control opposition to the war in Ukraine.
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Putin on Friday approved changes to Russian law that impose prison sentences of up to 15 years for “fake” news about the war in Ukraine." (CNBC : 6 March 2022) (my emphasis)

BBC Report:

"More than 4,300 people were detained at anti-war protests across Russia on Sunday, rights groups and Russian authorities say." (BBC News : 6 March 2022)
 

As the letter from the FSB analyst points out :-

A sinking Putin ...  In the words of the FSB analyst, "Is there the possibility of a local nuclear strike? Yes. Not for military puropses (nothing will not give - this is a weapon of defense breakthrough), but in order to intimidate others"

(to be continued)