Russia has publicly acknowledged for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine that the invasion is not going as hoped.

“I would like to say that not everything is going as fast as we would like,” said the head of the Russian National Guard, Viktor Zolotov, on Sunday evening. So far, Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently claimed that the invasion went completely according to plan.

Zolotov referred to “Nazis” who would hide in schools, kindergartens and homes behind peaceful civilians, including women and children.

Yet Zolotov is convinced that Russia would prevail. The Russian National Guard also participates in the invasion of Ukraine.