Video summary
Dictator Vladimir Putin has shifted his governance strategy by increasingly relying on FSB officials who advocate for strict societal and business control, a move that is causing significant concern among Russia's elite. Historically, the Kremlin master balanced power between security hardliners and moderate economic figures within the ruling class, but recent reports indicate he now prioritizes the voices of those holding senior positions in the Federal Security Service. This shift toward authoritarian oversight is exemplified by the aggressive actions against Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, who was accused of aiding terrorism and subsequently added to international wanted lists following accusations from Russian authorities.
As FSB powers expand at the expense of high-ranking officials, tensions are rising between the security apparatus and other members of the elite, particularly those overseeing domestic policy like Sergey Kiriyenko. This official has seen his influence wane as Putin defers less to him, especially after he was blamed for diplomatic failures with Armenia, Hungary, and Moldova. Experts suggest that this internal friction is driven by a need for unity against external threats; having previously led the FSB himself, Putin now depends heavily on its support to maintain power amidst setbacks in the war against Ukraine, leading to intensified repression against opposition figures who disagree with official propaganda.
The Kremlin has reportedly adopted a new state strategy where victory over Ukraine becomes dangerous because it would require presenting results that could expose failures, while defeat is avoided by simply prolonging the conflict indefinitely. Analysts from Forbidden Opinion argue that this prolonged war serves Putin's interests perfectly as it allows him to postpone political conclusions and keep Russians in a perpetual state of anticipation for an undefined "decisive moment." By framing any awkward questions or potential losses as reasons to persevere, the regime ensures that citizens stop believing life without war is possible, effectively using the ongoing conflict to preserve the existing system regardless of military outcomes.
This strategic pivot was reinforced by statements from Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador Radian Mishnik in August 2026, who declared that Russia must prepare for a fairly protracted military action against Ukraine due to Europe's position and the impossibility of ending fighting soon. The new doctrine implies that the war will continue as long as it benefits the dictator's grip on power, with any failure treated merely as fuel for further perseverance rather than a cause for retreat or reform. Ultimately, this approach aims to entrench a state of permanent crisis where the only way to maintain stability is through continuous conflict and internal control, leaving no room for alternative political futures or peace negotiations in the foreseeable future.
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Dictator Vladimir Putin has begun to
listen more closely to FSB officials who
advocate for tighter control over
society and business, raising concerns
among the Russian elite. According to a
new Bloomberg report, Bloomberg noted
that Putin has long governed Russia by
balancing between security hardliners
and members of the Russian elite group
of more moderate economically oriented
individuals. However, recently the
Kremlin master has begun to listen more
to the hardliners who hold senior
positions in the FSB. This is evident,
for example, in the recent Russian
accusation of Pavl Durov, founder of the
messaging app Telegram, of aiding
terrorist activity, being added to a
list of terrorists and [music]
extremists and then placed on an
international wanted list. Bloomberg
sources say the FSB's powers are
expanding while high-ranking officials
are losing their influence. For example,
Putin is said to be deferring less to
Sergey Kirenko, who oversees domestic
policy. This senior official was
recently blamed for Russia's failures in
relations with Armenia, Hungary, and
Malddova. According to Bloomberg,
tensions are rising in Russia between
the elite and the security forces,
[music] primarily the FSB. Putin
previously led the FSB and is counting
on its help to retain power amid the
setbacks in the war against Ukraine. A
Bloomberg article cites the opinions of
several experts on the current state of
affairs in Russia. They all note the
intensification of repression against
opposition figures and [music] anyone
who disagrees with official Kremlin
propaganda. It was previously reported
that dictator Vladimir Putin had
developed a new state strategy for
Russia. The statement by Russian foreign
ministry ambassador at large Radian
Mishnik that Russia must be prepared for
quite prolonged military action against
Ukraine is not a casual slip of the
tongue but rather a new state strategy.
According to experts from Forbidden
Opinion, analysts at Forbidden Opinion
believe that the ongoing war against
Ukraine is extremely convenient for
Russian [music] dictator Vladimir Putin
as it allows him to indefinitely
postpone the conclusion of the war. To
preserve the existing system, Putin
doesn't necessarily need to win, but
[music] it's enough not to end it. Any
awkward question is declared to be aid
to the enemy, and any failure is a
reason to persevere even more. Victory
is dangerous because it will require
presenting the results. Defeat is
dangerous because it involves looking
for someone to blame, wrote the experts
at Forbidden Opinion. For Putin, the
current situation is advantageous
according to Forbidden Opinion because
he can tell Russians every year about
the decisive moment that is yet to come.
The Kremlin's new strategy is aimed at
ensuring that Russians stop remembering
that life without war is even possible.
As a reminder, on August [music] 6th,
2026 in an interview with Russian media,
Radayion Myrishnik stated that Russia
must be prepared for a fairly protracted
military action [music] against Ukraine.
He believes that ending the fighting
will be impossible in the near future
due to Europe's position.