The Putin Critic Who Wanted More of Ukraine
Retired Russian general Leonid Ivashov warned against the invasion. He later advocated further conquests while continuing to criticise President Vladimir Putin.
In an interview published by the Russian magazine Republic on 4 March 2026, Leonid Ivashov described Russia’s international standing as the weakest in its history. Four years earlier, he had warned that war against Ukraine could threaten Russia’s future.
Between those statements, the general advocated Russian control over additional Ukrainian territory. His interviews reveal how concern about the war’s consequences coexists with ambitions to expand Russian power.
