Summer holiday disruption caused by Ukrainian strikes is bringing the war closer to ordinary Russians, threatening public support for Putin and exposing the costs of a prolonged conflict
The Kremlin is replacing underperforming regional leaders with military veterans and officials from occupied territories as it prepares for a prolonged war
Once a showcase for investment, SPIEF now reflects wartime Russia’s ideological turn, where geopolitics, militarism and state control increasingly eclipse economic debate
The Putin regime remains resilient, but mounting economic, elite, and social pressures could over time begin to reinforce one another in destabilising ways
Methodological changes at Russia’s main state pollsters have halted the fall in Putin’s approval ratings, even as broader indicators point to rising public dissatisfaction and declining optimism
Russia’s Victory Day unfolds amid war stalemate, security fears, and waning support, exposing tensions between Kremlin propaganda and battlefield reality
Russians face widening internet shutdowns and controls, as security measures strain daily life, reshape digital habits, and fuel quiet public frustration.
Putin spotlights economic decline as elections near, fueling elite tensions, pressure on government, and rising influence of security services
Internet shutdowns and messaging app bans have become one of the most sensitive pressure points in Russia, contributing to a gradual decline in support for the authorities
The Russian authorities are seeking sources of funding for the growing budget deficit, while preparing to tighten fiscal discipline and mobilise resources
After four years of war, Russia has hardened into a more personalist and repressive system, adjusted its economy to prolonged confrontation, and signalled readiness for a sustained standoff with the West
The 2026 elections will not change Russia’s political course, but will complete the current reshaping of the regime and may increase its exposure to latent public dissatisfaction
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