Putin Addresses Grievances After Drone Strikes
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- Putin publicly acknowledged obstacles faced by businesses and instructed authorities to improve communication, a rare display of sympathy and criticism of security services.
- Andrei Soldatov argued that Russian intelligence misjudged Ukrainian institutions and the Ukrainian public's reaction, calling it the main mistake behind the war's setbacks.
- Yuri Kotenok warned that Russia's planning, intelligence, and coordination remain far below par, urging corrective action.
- Victoria Bonya posted an 18‑minute Instagram video that amassed 30 million views, listing grievances from internet blackouts to floods in western Russia, prompting a rare grassroots critique of Putin’s leadership.
- Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted that Putin’s unusual direct response to grassroots criticism and his censure of security services marked a significant shift in Kremlin communication.
Why it matters: Russian entrepreneurs lose revenue as war‑induced shortages and taxes bite, and Putin’s concession emboldens critics and forces the Kremlin to re‑evaluate its war strategy, altering internal power balances.
