Oleksiy Arestovich, an advisor to Volodymyr Zelensky’s Chief of Staff, has recently claimed that Vladimir Putinis in an uncomfortable spot because of Russia’s losses on the battlefield in Ukraine, and thegrowing domestic pressure.
Discover our latest podcast
Fearing more than loss of power
In an interview for The Times, the Ukrainian official said that Vladimir Putin suffered a serious psychological blow after Ukraine liberated the city of Kherson.
This development according to him has left Putin facing not only a potential loss of power but even reeling for his life.
[Putin] is very afraid because there is no forgiveness in Russia for tsars who lose wars. He is fighting for his life now. If he loses the war, at least in the minds of the Russians, it means the end. The end of him as a political figure. And possibly in the physical sense.
The city of Kherson was the only major urban area that Russia was able to capture and control thus far into the war in Ukraine. The retreat and loss of the cityunleashed a shockwave across Russia.
Kherson is rich in water resources and served as a strategic outpost for Russia by providing a land corridor with the region of Crimea that is under its control since 2014.
According to Arestovich, the liberation of Kherson is not only a strategic defeat for Russia, but it also sent a message to Putin loyalists that they cannot win the war.
This has forced even people who are very loyal to Putin to doubt that they can win this war.
A mounting cost of war and internal strife
With the serial defeats of Russia in Ukraine and nearly nine months into the war, the losses are mounting especially in terms of the human toll.
According to a Daily Mail report, there are rumours circulating which assert that Vladimir Putin might announce a new round of mobilising volunteers.
This has translated to increased domestic pressure directed towards the Russian President, especially from a coalition of mothers and wives of men who have been mobilised for the war efforts.
The head of the Council of Mothers and Wives, whose son has been missing ever since he went to the front, has bravely accused Vladimir Putin of lacking courage and refusing to meet with them.
Do you have enough courage to look into our eyes — openly, in a meeting with women who weren't hand-picked for you…?
Women who aren't in your pocket, but real mothers who have travelled here from different cities at their own expense, to meet with you?
We are here, in Moscow, and we are ready to meet with you. We expect an answer from you. Are you going to keep hiding from us?
Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Russian President will not meet these women but only those who believe in his war, the Daily Mail reports.
Read more: Vladimir Putin's biggest critics reveals details about what life in Russian prison is like
Sources used:
-TheTimes: ‘Putin living in fear for his life as army retreats, Zelensky aide says’
-Independent: ‘Vladimir Putin ‘living in fear for his life as army retreats’, Zelensky aide says’
-DailyMail: ‘Putin fears he will be KILLED and is 'fighting for his life' in Ukraine because 'there is no forgiveness for tsars who lose wars in Russia', senior Ukrainian figure claims'
