As Vladimir Putin calls for improving Russia's air defenses, DW asks Russian expert and author Leon Aron if Ukraine's ongoing attacks on Russian oil refineries are finally affecting the Russian leader's grip on power.

[Video, 19 min.]

Ukraine's growing drone strikes inside Russia hit oil infrastructure and force the scaling-down of public events, putting pressure on President Vladimir Putin.

But despite the economic strain, declining domestic popularity and military setbacks, Putin insists Russia is recovering and winning.

Experts say he still controls the narrative at home through propaganda and repression, but could mounting pressure eventually threaten his grip on power?

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[–] rockerface@lemmy.cafe 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

but could mounting pressure eventually threaten his grip on power?

Not until the russian society actually rallies to overthrow his government. As shit as the Soviets were, part of the 1910s movement did do some good by overthrowing the tsar (even if Bolsheviks took false credit for that). I don't think putin's going to just crumble under pressure and disappear, he has to be ousted from his position of power. After that, it's equal chances that whoever replaces him is actually willing to end the war and focus on rebuilding what's left.

[–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The USSR caved without a popular uprising.

[–] ManixT@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

There definitely were popular uprises in soviet occupied states, like Estonia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Way

It's a pretty inspiring movement of bonding together to fight russian imperialism.