I don't know. The Guardian has published misleading stories before. It's very possible that this is in fact a true and accurate summation of the situation. But I also cannot be sure that this is tainted by some propagandistic motives, or misunderstanding of the situation. I don't have an opinion either way. I just wish I could trust newspapers and take them at their word.
Tell me if that one sounds familiar: President Putin is making low-level tactical decisions that would normally be decided by an officer in charge of as few as 700 Russian troops, western military sources say.