Russian Elites Increasingly Uneasy Over Putin’s Ukraine War Strategy, Report Claims.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly facing growing pressure from sections of the country’s political and business elite amid mounting concerns over the prolonged war in Ukraine and its impact on Russia’s economy.

According to a report by The Sun, several influential Russian figures have recently expressed concerns about the direction of the government, an unusual development in a political environment where open criticism of the Kremlin remains uncommon.

Among those reportedly voicing concerns is German Gref, the head of Russia’s largest bank and a former senior government official. He was said to have called for an end to the war in Ukraine, arguing that the prolonged conflict has negatively affected the Russian economy.

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko was also cited in the report as appealing for economic support from Western countries and reportedly calling for an end to what he described as one-man rule.

Ukraine war analyst Jason Smart told The Sun that members of Russia’s elite were increasingly concerned about protecting their wealth as economic pressures continued to grow.

“They understand that Putin's regime is on very shaky ground. And at this point, there's a very good chance that it will fall,” Smart said.

The report further claimed that wealthy Russians had moved billions of dollars abroad over the past year in an effort to protect their assets amid growing uncertainty.

“They are doing what they can right now to make sure that they are able to preserve their assets,” Smart added.

The report also alleged that Putin had reduced his public appearances in recent months, while security around his residences had reportedly been strengthened.

It claimed that Russia’s National Guard had expanded its personnel and military capabilities, including the deployment of tank units.

Smart suggested that the development could be linked to concerns over potential unrest within Russia.

“Why do you need tanks unless you're gonna have battle with other tanks? But that's exactly what they're planning for. The potential for mutiny. There are those around Putin who understand that his days are numbered,” he said.

Russian political analyst and Kremlin critic Igor Eidman also told The Sun that frustration among sections of Russia’s establishment was growing.

“The Kremlin elites are growing impatient. They understand the war cannot be won and are increasingly promoting the idea that something has to change, and urgently,” Eidman said.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reportedly urged Russia to consider freezing the conflict during a meeting with Putin.

“Perhaps it is already time to freeze this conflict, return to the Istanbul 2.0 formula, as significant results were achieved there,” Tokayev was quoted as saying.

Former UK Defence Attaché to Russia, John Foreman, said the remarks could indicate Kazakhstan’s desire to distance itself from Moscow while maintaining diplomatic relations.

Foreman argued that the war had significantly altered geopolitical dynamics in the region, pointing to Ukraine’s strengthened military position, Russia’s heavy casualties, NATO’s expansion and the growing independence of Central Asian states.

The report further claimed that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan had increasingly sought to reduce their dependence on Moscow, potentially creating greater opportunities for China and the United States to expand their influence in Central Asia.

However, the claims contained in The Sun report have not been independently verified. The Kremlin has also not publicly responded to the allegations concerning growing dissatisfaction among Russia’s political and business elite.