Daniel Wolfram
Ukraine has brought the war Russia started back on its doorstep. A Danish lecturer predicts that this will not end well for Putin.
It seems that for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Vladimir Putin is on his heels.
Ukraine has had a lot of success with its long-range drone strikes deep in the heart of Russia, damaging its infrastructure.
Will it lead to an uprising against the regime? Some experts believe so.
Cracks in the regime
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently addressed the Russian public amid the ongoing attacks in Russia by Ukraine. “The more difficult the situation becomes for the enemy, the more brutal and barbaric the Kyiv regime’s attacks become. I am convinced that our soldiers will show courage and not fail us. Now much depends on our unity,” Putin said.
Despite the promise of the speech, some observers note growing pressure behind the scenes. Economic strains, rising troop losses, and domestic logistical disruptions are taking a visible toll on public confidence ahead of upcoming elections.
Jakob Tolstrup, a Danish expert and lecturer at Aarhus University, noted that the Kremlin is feeling the mounting pressure. “Putin is facing heavy headwinds on many fronts,” Tolstrup told Danish broadcaster TV 2.
Fearing public unrest
Falling poll numbers have raised alarms in some Russian government circles. Voters are feeling the economic unrest, and general trust in the presidency has slid lower than usual.
Tolstrup told TV 2 that recent surveys highlight this shift. “We see a fairly significant drop in a lot of opinion polls in trust in the president, support for the president and for United Russia. There is, if not a crisis situation, then at least a more unstable situation than we have seen previously,” he said.
To maintain order, authorities have expanded federal powers if public unrest should erupt. Firefighters can now legally carry weapons and make arrests. According to Tolstrup, “it is an expression of concern about a popular uprising, and that they are trying to prepare to crack down hard.”
Tension is also building within official circles. Russian journalist Konstantin Eggert told TV 2 that officials inside the Kremlin are growing restless. “We see the first signs of disagreement and dissatisfaction with Putin in the corridors of the Kremlin. People think his administration has failed,” Eggert said.
