The Economist: Putin fears for his safety if war ends without seizing Donbas
The Economist reports that Vladimir Putin is worried about his personal safety should the war end without fully capturing Donbas, and that Russia may choose escalation to break the deadlock.
According to the British magazine "The Economist", Russian President Vladimir Putin is concerned about his own safety if the war in Ukraine were to end without at least achieving the minimal goal of fully seizing the Donbas region. Sources close to Putin told the outlet that at some point during the war he told those around him: "They will hang me." The exact context and further details of the conversation were not disclosed.
Growing discontent
Citing public opinion polls, the article's authors note that dissatisfaction with the war among the Russian population is rising, while the mood within the elite is said to be even gloomier. One source said the biggest problem is neither the state of the economy nor the lack of military success, but rather the wasted time — regardless of the final outcome, nearly five years of war are already seen as a failure. Another member of the Russian elite reportedly said there is a growing sense that "the king is naked."
Possible escalation
According to the outlet's sources, the current situation is not advantageous for the Kremlin, since economic resources and political capital are being squandered. Although none of Russia's current economic or political problems are fatal for Putin — he still commands resources and a repressive apparatus to continue the war — domestic perception of the conflict matters. The article's authors suggest Putin may be following a principle of never showing weakness, which could lead to escalation as a way out of the deadlock.
Among the possible scenarios mentioned are intensified hybrid warfare and sabotage operations against countries allied with Ukraine. Western intelligence services reportedly believe Russia could attack factories in Europe producing equipment for Ukraine's military needs, though direct military confrontation with NATO is not considered likely. Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defence has already announced preparations for massive strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
