Russian Officials Admit Putin System Has ‘No Future’
Kyiv Post • • world
Key Points:
- Russian officials are privately expressing growing anxiety about the future of Vladimir Putin’s political system amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, with mid-level bureaucrats fearing instability if the government structure weakens or collapses.
- Officials closest to Putin feel relatively secure, while lower-ranking functionaries are increasingly worried about the consequences of a potential collapse of Putin’s power.
- The most nervous groups within the Kremlin are those responsible for domestic political control and those benefiting financially from the war, with some officials seeking personal distractions or planning for uncertain futures abroad.
- Russia’s economy is under significant strain from the prolonged conflict, with some political figures, including a Communist Party deputy, calling for an end to the war to prevent further economic damage.
- Putin’s approval rating has dropped to its lowest level since before the 2022 invasion, falling to 65.6% amid economic slowdown and increased government restrictions on internet access and cyberspace control.