In Russia, elites are beginning to talk about a possible change of leadership in a way that has never happened before in the more than 20 years of dictator Vladimir Putin’s rule, The Washington Post reports.
A rebellion or a palace coup is coming to Russia? Several similar messages are already in the media. Now, citing sources, The Washington Post writes about such trends. At the same time, the publication immediately clarified that no one can say how and when this may happen.
revolutionary situation
High sources in power and representatives of business elites are devastated and depressed, journalists say. They expect the political and economic climate to worsen.
“We have begun to enter a revolutionary situation. Everyone is waiting for something different than what is happening now: a different leadership, a different war. Hawks want tougher action. Pigeons do not want war. It is time for a change in the political system. But I don’t know how it will happen,” said the publication’s source.
Economists and business owners note that the sanctions are starting to hit the Russian economy harder: budget cuts have already begun, another blow will be the ceiling on Russian oil prices. Against this background, every bad news from the frontline war against Ukraine becomes a new blow to the Russian economy, the source said.
“The whole business is suffering from what is happening. Everyone has frozen their investment plans,” he said.
Hno one will help
Earlier notions that Russia could redirect trade from the West through China, Kazakhstan and India quickly dispelled, two other sources said. Kazakhstan began to block shipments of European goods to Russia, and the Chinese also began to stop some deliveries.
“Everyone is upset. The mood is very bad,” said a third senior Russian businessman.
The impact of Putin’s escalation in Ukraine (massive missile strikes), which could quell discontent over Russia’s military withdrawal, is unlikely to be long-lasting, officials and businessmen believe.
Army problems
“There are other problems on the battlefield… I don’t think that will take the pressure off,” the Moscow businessman said, referring to the missile attacks in Ukraine.
One of the interlocutors of the newspaper in power believes that Russia may not have enough missiles for a long military campaign. They are being produced, but we are talking about units of new missiles. And old reserves are running out, the official said.
“It is clear that military or political victory is impossible. But loss is also impossible. It turns into a chess situation known as zugzwang, where each move is worse than the next, and it’s impossible not to move,” a source told the newspaper.
The Russian official said that the optimism of the summer, when many in the country’s elite believed that “we will turn everything around and find a way,” has completely evaporated: “People see that there is no future .”
The forced mobilization has already dealt a blow to Putin’s popularity, and when the bodies of reservists start returning from the front, the situation could worsen, the Moscow businessman believes.
“In a few months, there will be a very negative dynamic in Russia: a breakdown in public sentiment,” he said.
But few in Moscow believe Putin will launch a tactical nuclear strike. After all, in this case, “he does not have any cards left,” and China may block it, he believes: “This Pandora’s box (the Chinese) does not want to open.”
Big loss
The irreparable losses of the Russian army in Ukraine may reach more than 90 thousand people, according to the source of Russian Important Stories, citing two sources in the Russian special services.
Information about 90 thousand Russians who will no longer be able to participate in the hostilities was provided by a former officer of the Russian special services and a current officer of the FSB.
It is clarified that irretrievable losses include those who died, went missing, died of wounds in hospitals, as well as wounded who cannot return to military service. Such data approximately converges with assessments of Ukraine and the West.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.