Trump blamed Russia’s failed assault on Kyiv on a ‘stupid general’ who drove his tanks into the mud. The real story is very different.

The real story behind President Trump's claim about Russia's failed assault on Kyiv.

The full report

President Trump has repeatedly claimed that Russia's failed assault on Kyiv was due to a 'stupid general' who drove his tanks into the mud. However, according to a fact-check by BBC Russia, the real story is very different.

BBC Russia reported that Colonel General Alexander Chayko led Russia's advance on Kyiv from Belarus in February 2022. The outlet stated that the offensive's failure had nothing to do with any decision by Chayko to turn off the road.

Ukrainian forces stopped the advance on Kyiv, with the military blowing up a bridge over the Irpin River on the outskirts of the capital and destroying the Kozarovychi dam when Russian forces tried to go around the obstruction.

Ukrainian forces also destroyed a column of Russian armored vehicles in Bucha. As the Russian army's losses mounted, its command brought in reinforcements from Belarus.

After the failed advance, Russian military command removed Chayko as commander and sent him to lead the Russian contingent in Syria. He stayed there until June 2025, a tenure that spanned the coup that forced President Bashar al-Assad to flee to Moscow.

Despite the failure of the advance, Chayko's career was not hurt. He returned to Moscow, became deputy chief of the General Staff, and was later promoted to commander of Russia's Aerospace Forces.

In August 2026, General Chayko nearly died in an explosion near the Balzi Rossi restaurant in Moscow, where he was celebrating his 55th birthday and his promotion to the new post. Five people were killed, including Chayko's son-in-law, and 19 others were injured.