Russian President Vladimir Putin is leading the Russian Federation toward total military defeat by continuing the invasion of Ukraine, according to American Marine intelligence veteran Matthew Sampson.
Speaking on Ukrainian television network 24 Kanal, Sampson said public sentiment inside Russia regarding the war is no longer positive, with citizens increasingly believing that it is time to bring the invasion to an end.
Sampson, who joined the Defense Forces of Ukraine as a volunteer in 2022, drew direct parallels between Putin and Adolf Hitler. He said Putin is prepared to go so far as to destroy his own country without recognizing the consequences of his actions, just as Hitler failed to see his invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 as a guaranteed defeat when everyone else saw it as such.
According to the American marine, Putin will push the war until the Russian Federation suffers a complete and guaranteed defeat. Sampson expressed hope that the destruction of Russia's military capabilities would leave the country unable to recover for at least 10 to 20 years, ensuring that the international community does not face the same security threat in the next decade or two.
Comparing Russia to Post-War Germany
Sampson noted that Germany was once a powerful state before Hitler's decisions resulted in total collapse, particularly for the Nazi party. He explained that any real threat of Germany making long-term territorial gains disappeared so completely that the world recognized it would never recur within current lifetimes or subsequent generations. Germany ceased to be a threat to European nations after World War II ended in 1945 and evolved over the following decades into a key partner and ally in Europe.
In contrast, Sampson said Putin is trapped in his own propaganda and lies, refusing to confront reality while showing no indication that the Russian government cares about its citizens. He highlighted the growing strain on families in remote regions of Russia who suffer as relatives go missing, die on the front lines, or are captured in Ukraine.
Sampson warned that when such grievances accumulate, they historically culminate in revolution. He pointed to events from 35 years ago during the collapse of the Soviet system, when citizens recognized the need to break away from state mismanagement and turmoil.
CIA Assessment of Russian Losses
The intelligence officer's comments follow reports that Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe conducted a secret visit to Moscow to deliver a grim assessment of Russia's war effort. Ratcliffe sought to urge Russian officials to reach a negotiated agreement before their military and economic standing deteriorates further.
During the private meetings, Ratcliffe informed Russian officials that their military had managed to capture only about 1 percent of Ukrainian territory over an 18-month period. He added that the average lifespan of a Russian soldier deployed to the front line is less than 35 minutes, while Ukraine's advanced mastery of drone technology is imposing unsustainable costs on the Russian war effort.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine include national armed forces and foreign volunteers who joined the war effort following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Channel 24 is a major 24-hour news broadcaster based in Kyiv, while the CIA, headquartered in Langley, Virginia, serves as the foreign intelligence agency of the United States government.
