Putin Under Pressure: Russia's Contradictions and the Patience of the Relatives

In his latest address, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again reiterated his rhetoric on the "special operation" in Ukraine, but the reality of the conflict—a war with real casualties—cannot be concealed. Despite decades in power and state-controlled media, Putin cannot escape the growing skepticism within Russia. Citizens are beginning to question why the country still struggles with serious problems after nearly a quarter-century under Putin's rule. The costs of the war tragically manifest in human losses—fathers and husbands fall in a conflict whose legitimacy is increasingly being called into question. The government may attempt to glorify the fallen as heroes, but how long their relatives will find solace in such portrayals remains uncertain. Likewise, the duration of the war and the question of whether Putin will extend his military ambitions to other countries are factors that could continue to test the patience of the Russian populace. These developments pose not only a challenge to Russia's societal stability but also to Putin's own future at the helm of the state. His approach in Ukraine is not just a military venture, but increasingly also a domestic political gamble.