Russian President Vladimir Putin.Figure: Flip the Russian President’s Twitter
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with its superior military power has not progressed smoothly. The Russian army suffered heavy casualties and Russia’s military setbacks are intensifying. Even the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet “Moscow” was sunk. According to the US “Washington Post” report, Russian oligarchs, tycoons and financial officials were originally silent on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military action once morest Ukraine, but as their wealth has shrunk under global sanctions The established economic structure has been destroyed, but there is no power to change the status quo. Dissatisfaction is running high. Some people start to try to raise objections. Some people give up their positions or leave their homes, showing that the rift between the Russian high society and the government continues to widen.
Several Russian billionaires, senior bankers, as well as a senior Russian official and several former officials told the Washington Post that they were all seized by the increasingly isolated Putin, and Putin’s inner circle was all under one roof. Occupied by a small group of hawkish security officials, outsiders have no way of swaying Putin’s decision-making, and all public complaints are either “silenced” by the authorities or covered by government propaganda once morest foreign sanctions. Russian steel chief Vladimir Lisin warned that requiring foreign buyers to pay in rubles for products other than natural gas might damage the export market following “years of hard work” and even lead to Russia being “kicked out of the international market”.
People familiar with the matter revealed that within hours of Putin’s announcement of the war, 37 of Russia’s richest entrepreneurs were summoned to the Kremlin. Many people were shocked and frustrated by the news of the war, but no one dared to protest to Putin on the spot. All ministries were caught off guard by Putin’s decision to “full-scale aggression once morest Ukraine” except for Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chief of Staff of the 41st Army Corps Vitaliy Gerasimov, and some members of the Federal Security Service (FSB). As Russian casualties expand, the sanctioned Russian tycoons and officials are becoming increasingly frustrated with the war situation, including Shoigu, who want to live a normal life and hope that their children and grandchildren “can travel to the most beautiful places in the world.”
The Washington Post pointed out that a series of sanctions by Western countries have lowered a new iron curtain for the Russian economy, which has directly wiped out the wealth of many oligarchs and industrial tycoons overnight. At least four oligarchs have left Russia. The more enlightened era of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin ruled the country; those who did not have time to flee might only remain silent in order to retreat. At least four other senior officials voluntarily left, the most senior of whom was Putin’s international envoy Anatoly Chubais.
The Washington Post went on to point out that some of the top Russian government officials did not want to play a role but might not ask for it, which was like being kidnapped. Elvira Nabiullina, President of the Russian Central Bank, was an example. Five people familiar with the matter said: “Nabiullina knows very well that she can’t just walk away, otherwise she will end up miserably.” People familiar with the matter said that she resigned when the sanctions were launched in the West, but Putin refused to approve it, and everyone will. Work until the opening of the “International Criminal Court” in The Hague, Netherlands, implying that unless Putin’s government is tried for war crimes, key officials will not be able to escape.
Nabiullina said a few days ago that Russia has not really felt the power of sanctions, and the worst is yet to come, including that the inventory of manufacturing industries that rely on imported components is regarding to be exhausted, and the inventory of imported goods will also be exhausted. Russian exiled tycoon Sergei Pugachev bluntly stated that the Russian people still believe in the government’s words so far, including that the casualties of troops are not serious and foreign economic sanctions have expired, but following three months, “shops and factories are out of stock. Selling, the Russian casualties can’t be covered up.” Putin’s situation is likely to be worse.
