August M
Former world chess champion and Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov says growing frustration inside Russia could eventually threaten Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.
According to comments cited by the Polish Press Agency via RBK-Ukraine, Kasparov believes the failures of Russia’s war in Ukraine are fueling doubts among both political elites and ordinary citizens, reports O2.pl.
Growing discontent
Kasparov argued that more Russians are beginning to accept that Moscow cannot achieve victory in Ukraine.
“There’s a sense that something is happening,” Kasparov said, according to PAP.
He claimed that military setbacks and economic strain are weakening confidence in Putin’s leadership and creating pressure within the political system.
“And now we’re seeing a situation where a great many people, both in the elite and ordinary citizens, are beginning to understand that Putin can’t win the war,” he said.
Pressure on the Kremlin
According to RBK-Ukraine, Kasparov believes the biggest threat facing the Kremlin is psychological rather than purely military or economic.
He argued that Russian political culture historically punishes leaders who lose wars and suggested this could become a decisive factor if the conflict continues to stagnate.
“Russian tradition does not forgive a tsar or dictator for losing a war,” Kasparov said.
He added that a growing number of influential figures may conclude that removing Putin is necessary to preserve the broader political system.
Looking to 2026
Kasparov also suggested that 2026 could mark a turning point in global politics and European security.
According to PAP, he believes Ukraine’s continued resistance and battlefield actions are reshaping international power dynamics and increasing pressure on Moscow.
While Kasparov did not predict an immediate leadership change in Russia, he described an emerging scenario in which the costs of the war increasingly influence decisions inside the Kremlin.
Observers cited by RBK-Ukraine noted that any significant shift within Russia’s leadership could have major consequences for the war and for Europe’s wider security landscape.
Sources: o2.pl, PAP, RBK-Ukraine
