Retired Kremlin colonel who gave damning assessment of Ukraine invasion suddenly backtracks on claim

A retired Russian military commander has re-appeared on state television warning Ukrainian officials not to underestimate Russia’s military and economic might, despite having disparaged his nation’s war efforts live on air just days ago.

Mikhail Khodaryonok, a former air defence commander and graduate of some of the Soviet Union’s top military schools, took to the stage yesterday where he waxed lyrical about the quality of Russian weapons and boasted about the strength of the military.

‘The…