Kenneth Glad
Russia’s leadership is reportedly facing increasing challenges amid military setbacks, economic pressures, and declining public support. Observers have raised concerns that growing isolation at the top could have significant political consequences.
Vladimir Putin’s increasing seclusion and reliance on Russia’s security services could leave him vulnerable, according to exiled businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
The warning comes as the Russian leader reportedly faces military setbacks, economic strain, and declining domestic support.
Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man, spent a decade in Siberian prison after confronting Putin over corruption and governance.
Now based in London, he has told The Sun that the Russian leader’s behavior resembles historical dictators: “Putin has done a lot to create the impression he is like Hitler.”
He argued that the way Russia has conducted its war in Ukraine draws parallels with Germany’s military strategies during World War II.
Khodorkovsky suggested that these patterns, combined with paranoia and isolation, could lead to a “grim and lonely” outcome for the Russian president.
Security concerns
The Sun writes that Putin has spent extended periods in secret bunkers, allegedly fearing Ukrainian drone strikes and potential coups within Russia’s elite.
A European intelligence source reportedly noted heightened Kremlin precautions since March 2026, although these claims have not been independently verified.
Khodorkovsky stressed that Putin’s power relies on propaganda and security services.
He claimed that declining public trust – and cited state polling showing that only 71% of Russians currently support the president – could force Putin to depend solely on his security apparatus, creating potential internal dangers.
Russia’s military has reportedly suffered roughly 1.2 million casualties, including killed, wounded, or missing personnel, The Sun reports.
Military spending reached an estimated 15.5 trillion rubles (£144 billion) in 2025, while food prices rose nearly 19% over two years. Khodorkovsky said these pressures exacerbate the isolation and inefficiency of Putin’s governance system.
He summarized the problem by noting that the Kremlin’s structures compel compliance through bribes or coercion, leaving officials vulnerable if they resist orders.
Historical comparisons
Khodorkovsky compared Putin’s trajectory to that of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. He stated that Stalin died in isolation, abandoned by his entourage, and warned that Putin could follow a similar path:
“Putin’s scale of repression is about 100 times less than Stalin’s. However, propaganda gives the impression of similar control over his elite.”
Since the invasion of Ukraine, more than 20,000 Russians have reportedly been detained for speaking out, and Khodorkovsky himself was declared a “terrorist” by the Russian government in October 2025 for his Anti-War Committee’s activities abroad.
Khodorkovsky said he had confronted Putin directly over these systemic issues, arguing that the economic and bureaucratic pressures built into the system were unsustainable and fostered widespread corruption.
Sources: The Sun
