Russians are secretly calling Vladimir Putin "a fool" who has gone "nuts" and many fear a nuclear war, according to a former Russian journalist who fled to Germany when the Ukraine war began in 2022.
Alexandra Prokopenko, a former journalist, says many Russians are frantically trying to dodge military conscription. The invasion of Ukraine and its economic consequences have turned public opinion against Putin.
Secret criticism and fear of nuclear conflict
Some Russians label the president a "fool" who has gone "nuts", while others are terrified that nuclear conflict is imminent, sparking concerns about World War 3.
"People are so unhappy with the war that they have started talking about their unhappiness," Alexandra revealed.
According to the journalist, Putin governs Russia with an iron grip. Children are indoctrinated daily at school to support the conflict, and anyone who protests can end up behind bars. Those who manage to flee are typically labelled "foreign agents".
Elite support waning amid economic "death zone"
Some still back Putin, but Alexandra maintains this is usually among the elite who benefit from the conflict. Even that is shifting due to Ukraine's bombardment of Russia in recent months.
The spectacle of oil refineries and massive warehouses ablaze throughout the nation has become routine. This has left the economy in what Alexandra describes as a "death zone".
"That is a metaphor for mountaineers: the altitude where your body starts to consume its own tissue and cannot recover," she explained to The i. The process will "lead to a very slow erosion of the regime" or a "big kaboom", she said.
Putin's age and health concerns
One source of optimism for Alexandra is Putin's advancing years. The leader, who has maintained his iron grip on power for 26 years, has now reached 73. Recent appearances have triggered speculation about declining health, including rambling addresses and "shaking hands".
"All dictators are mortal," she added. "Putin is 73. Of course, he could reign for the next 10 years, but we are also one stroke from another future."
Alexandra has documented her experiences in her book From Sovereigns to Servants: How the War Against Ukraine Reshaped Russia's Elite, which is out now.
This comes as a former senior commander cautioned that Russia is already engaged in warfare with NATO. Retired four-star general Curtis Scaparrotti, who previously led US forces in Europe, said there was a long-term strategy behind the Kremlin's "spurious activities" targeting member nations. Among Moscow's objectives was to "break" NATO, he stated.
