So great is Vladimir Putin’s failure to achieve his initial military goals in Ukraine that it is unclear what purpose Russia is fighting for, other than to protect its president from the humiliation of admitting defeat. reports “The Guardian”.
With the Kremlin’s territorial ambitions on hold, Russia’s offensive capabilities have focused more on terrorizing civilians and destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure. The plan is the country to be plunged into freezing darkness in winter in hopes of depleting the will to resist, notes the British publication.
However, there are no signs that this strategy is working. Putin’s failure to understand the resilient character of Ukraine as a proud and independent state is the fundamental flaw of his war, points out the Guardian. Moreover, the Russian president misjudged his own people’s desire for war. It seemed insatiable in the first few weeks, when state propaganda channels easily stoked militant fervor. However, this fervor subsided due to the hardships of the war and died down completely after Frthe occurrence of military mobilizationher in september.
However, the publication makes clear that this does not mean that citizens are rioting en masse against the authorities. Dissent in Russia is silenced by fear and a habit of allegiance to power in times of crisisemphasizes the “Guardian”.
However, hundreds of thousands of people escaped the mobilization, probably even more than were successfully mobilized (authorities have not released exact figures).
Most of the mobilized were outraged by the lack of the necessary equipment, from lack of training and the fact that their deployment is aimless. People who consider themselves cannon fodder cannot be motivated soldiers.
Numerous videos have circulated on the Internet in which they talk about their plight at the front. The same confusion is felt through official channels, but expressed as increasingly insistent demands for the destruction of Ukraine, filled with contempt for the military leaders they seem unable to fulfil.
The Guardian notes it Putin himself is not yet swayed by criticism, but the myth of his strength and excellent judgment has been shaken.
It is difficult to make an accurate assessment of public sentiment in an almost totalitarian regime. However, there are signs that the people are already exhausted from the war. A confidential poll leaked last week commissioned by the Russian State Security Service found that 25% of respondents wanted the military campaign to continue until 55% hope for peace talks. By comparison, the February invasion of Ukraine enjoyed the support of 80% of the population.
There are also indications that The Kremlin is losing complete control over the information space. Currently, Russians are the world’s largest users of online services that can be used to bypass state Internet censorship. Note that Russian communities abroad provide their compatriots with more truthful information about what is happening in Ukraine than the media that legally broadcast in Russia.
However, the Guardian points out that it would be premature to imagine that Putin’s position has been seriously weakened. He has the levers of coercion to compensate for any waning enthusiasm for his government. The signs of instability are encouraging, however, reflecting the interest among Russians both at home and abroad for a different kind of politics. Cultivating this interest, supporting the exiles and highlighting the differences between the Russian people and their criminal leadership will be increasingly important in the coming months and years.
While Putin’s defeat in Ukraine is a strategic and moral imperative for European democracies, and the prospect of normalizing relations with Moscow seems remote, this idea cannot be entirely abandoned. For practical reasons, however, seeds of a different Russia must be grown wherever they grow, summarizes the Guardian.
