Putin has his critics but he’s not done yet

CRACKS are appearing in Vladimir Putin’s popularity in Russia but only time will tell if they spell his political demise, experts are warning.

- Marco Giannangeli

Although military failings in Ukraine have led to growing criticism, Putin has spent the last two decades protecting himself against internal challenges, one said.

A highly successful Ukrainian counteroffensive has seen Russia lose territory around the symbolic city of Kharkiv and almost 5,000 square miles of captured land, leading to a series of highly critical announcements on national TV and a call by 50 elected politicians for him to resign.

However, such open dissent would have to continue to grow before it became “meaningful”, said Russian expert Keir Giles, of the Chatham House think-tank.

He blamed the swiftness of Ukraine’s advances for Moscow’s failure to ensure its narrative was prioritised.

“There are those who are interpreting these things as the first signs of cracks in the system,” he said.

“The fact the propaganda system was temporarily in disarray for a few days is significant but we must wait to see whether this was a temporary glitch.

“If it continues it becomes a great deal more interesting.”