Putin’s Strongman Image Is Fading as Ukraine Brings War Home to Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin will oversee a scaled-down Victory Day parade on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II, amid a war in Ukraine that has exceeded the duration of that conflict, with Ukrainian drone strikes forcing security measures and eroding public morale. The war’s prolonged stalemate, economic strain, and rising civilian casualties have fueled discontent, with even pro-war factions questioning Putin’s leadership and comparing Russia’s stalled advances to the Soviet Union’s swift push to Berlin." "article": "Russian President Vladimir Putin will preside over a Victory Day parade on May 9, the first such event held during his war in Ukraine, which has now lasted longer than the Soviet Union’s 1941-1945 conflict against Nazi Germany. Ukrainian drone strikes across Russia, including in Moscow, have forced organizers to downgrade the parade, canceling armored vehicle displays and military cadet marches. Security services have imposed severe internet and cellphone restrictions in Moscow, mirroring China’s ‘Great Firewall,’ to counter perceived threats from drone attacks. The war’s prolonged stalemate, with Russian casualties exceeding one million and economic struggles, has spread discontent across the country, posing the most significant challenge to Putin’s rule since the 2023 Prigozhin rebellion. Nationalist loyalists now openly discuss a potential revolution as frustration grows over Russia’s inability to replicate the Soviet Union’s rapid advance to Berlin. Rumors of coup preparations and infighting within security forces circulate in Moscow. Psychologically, the turning point came in January, when Putin’s ‘special military operation’ surpassed the duration of the Great Patriotic War. Critics argue that Russia’s failure to achieve swift victories undermines Putin’s cult of victory, with opposition figures like Abbas Gallyamov stating that daily delays reinforce a sense of unworthiness compared to past generations. Pro-war media figures, such as Anastasia Kashevarova, have mocked the slow progress, comparing it to the Soviet Union’s decisive push toward Berlin. Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities, refineries, and military plants have become routine, with 70% of Russia’s population now within Kyiv’s strike range. Initially, these attacks spurred national unity, but prolonged exposure has shifted public sentiment, with even supporters questioning the war’s purpose. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claims the conflict has strengthened societal support for Putin, though the mood has shifted dramatically since last December, when hopes for a Trump-backed peace deal fueled optimism.