(MOSCOW, RUSSIA) – Growing domestic pressure is mounting on the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as fuel shortages worsen, Russians withdraw billions from banks and polls suggest a majority of the population now wants the war in Ukraine to end.
Four and a half years into the invasion, the economic strain is becoming increasingly visible. Petrol is available at only 28 percent of filling stations across Russia, down from 41 percent a short time ago. The shortages follow sustained Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
According to the Washington Post, Russians are withdrawing money from banks at record rates. Experts suggest the population is engaging in what they describe as “quiet resistance,” protecting their economic assets from a state they increasingly view as predatory.
Recent polling indicates approximately 65 to 66 percent of Russians want to see an end to the war and some form of settlement. This represents a significant shift in public sentiment since the invasion began.
“Putin defended himself through initiating a serious war in order to stay in power, and the people tried to employ other self-defensive strategies, not publicly protesting but showing quiet resistance, quiet protest by trying to save their economic assets from the state which they more and more consider to be predatory,” said one analyst.
Despite the pressure, Putin has stated that the “special military operation continues.” Experts note that for Putin, the political cost of ending the war may be greater than continuing it.
“I am confident that the upcoming parliamentary elections will confirm the stability of the state and the maturity of our political system,” Putin said ahead of September’s Duma elections.
Russia’s strategy is showing diminishing returns. “I don’t think Russia’s strategy is working. The costs for Russia are still quite significant and the gains they are achieving in this war are really diminishing,” an expert said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is stepping up strikes inside Russia, targeting oil infrastructure and tactical air capabilities. The Ukrainian defence ministry confirmed the destruction of an Ozon warehouse in the Samara region, following a campaign against Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer. Ozon controls more than 30 percent of Russia’s e-commerce market share.
Ukraine also struck an oil refinery in the Samara region and targeted Russian forces at an airfield in occupied Crimea. The Saki air base was hit, with damage reported to radar and drone storage facilities. Relay stations in Bryansk used to guide Russian drones towards Ukraine were also taken out.
The strikes represent a systematic effort to disrupt the entire chain behind Russia’s air attacks, from production facilities to launch sites.
France has pledged to speed up delivery of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine following a conversation between Presidents Macron and Zelenskyy. Germany’s foreign minister has also visited Kyiv, announcing humanitarian aid and additional military support.
However, experts warn that the global shortage of Patriot interceptors remains critical. Ukraine is developing its own Firepoint version of the Patriot system, which costs approximately $700,000 (£550,000) per unit compared to millions for the US version, but production cannot keep pace with demand.
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