Putin Gets Chilling ‘Revolution’ Warning From Andrei Klepach

Key Points:

• Andrei Klepach, chief economist at Russia’s Vnesheconombank and former Putin appointee, publicly warned that Russia is losing the war of attrition in Ukraine, with mounting economic and infrastructural damage undermining the country’s growth.
• Klepach highlighted that the conflict has lasted longer than World War II for Russia, with escalating attacks on infrastructure causing significant macroeconomic barriers and fueling a deepening social crisis.
• He drew historical parallels to the 1917 February Revolution and the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, warning that Russia faces a social crisis that could emerge unexpectedly, though he stopped short of predicting a full collapse.
• Despite Klepach’s warnings, President Vladimir Putin has dismissed economic concerns and vowed to continue the war effort, even as setbacks and Ukrainian strikes increasingly impact Russian society and economy.
• Klepach’s critical remarks have been largely censored within Russia, underscoring the sensitivity of dissenting views amid the ongoing conflict and political climate.