Putin Is Struggling to Hide Russia’s Rage: Top Russian Economist

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing increasing challenges managing public dissatisfaction with the economy, which is strained by war-related sanctions, inflation, labor shortages, and record military spending.
• Ukrainian drone strikes on key infrastructure, including the e-commerce platform Wildberries and oil facilities, have disrupted supply chains and caused gasoline shortages, fueling public frustration ahead of September’s parliamentary elections.
• Prominent economist Sergei Guriev highlights that the worsening economic conditions are a significant liability for Putin, who must publicly acknowledge problems while maintaining control amid war fatigue and rising unrest.
• The Kremlin has rejected rumors of a post-election military mobilization, but internal disagreements among top officials suggest tensions over economic and war strategies, with some warning of potential national collapse under a mobilization model.
• Despite economic struggles, Putin appears to believe Western societies lack the resilience for prolonged hardship, positioning Russians as more prepared to endure sacrifices in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.