I used to see this a lot. Software folk, who write some code that might be relevant to a system, x, which they might feel gives them some authority in system x.
But the authority always has to come from the experienced experts of system x.
When software is written without that authority, it often doesn't do much useful.
Systems Engineers are usually needed to identify the experts of system x.
We have to be experts at spotting the relevant experts.
Mr Sledge looks like the expert, to comment on things in Ukraine, in my opinion.
So I would be inclined to believe him, rather than you.