How Putin stays strong in Russia, four years into war in Ukraine
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, initially expected to be a swift operation, has extended into a devastating four-year war, causing massive destruction and millions of displaced lives in both countries.
- Despite severe Western sanctions and Ukrainian attacks on Russian military and energy infrastructure, Russia remains militarily engaged, reorienting its economy toward weapons production and maintaining territorial advances in Ukraine.
- The Russian government continues to promote a narrative blaming the West for the country's difficulties, emphasizing unity and portraying the war as integral to Russian identity while restricting access to foreign social media to control information.
- Public sentiment in Russia is mixed; while many express enthusiasm for victory, few are willing to join the military, and everyday life in major cities remains relatively unchanged despite economic pressures and social issues
