Putin faces rare public criticism as Russia’s war economy comes under pressure

The newspaper pointed to a Telegram post by Vyacheslav Markhayev, a Russian State Duma lawmaker from the Communist Party, in which he criticized conditions in the country, warned of the risk of a “social explosion” and called for a “clear public plan to end the special military operation,” Russia’s term for its war against Ukraine, while saying it should be done “based on Russia’s national interests.”

In late May, State Duma lawmaker Renat Suleymanov, who represents the same party, said ending the war against Ukraine was “simply necessary.” He said it was “absolutely obvious that the economy will not withstand a prolonged continuation of the special military operation.”

The Telegraph also pointed to Ilya Remeslo, a former member of Russia’s Civic Chamber and a pro-Kremlin blogger, who in March called Russian dictator Vladimir Putin a “war criminal and a thief” and called for him to be brought to trial.

Discontent with the authorities has been growing in Russia in recent months amid internet shutdowns, slow advances by Russian occupation forces on the battlefield and long-range Ukrainian strikes that have reached Moscow and St. Petersburg, the newspaper said.

Reports emerged this week that the Russian Public Opinion Research Center may stop publishing its “open-ended” trust rating for Putin after it fell to its lowest level since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine.

Concerns over the Russian economy are also fueling discontent, The Telegraph reported. Growth has slowed, inflation remains high, and Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries and terminals have cut Russia’s oil revenue and pushed refining volumes to their lowest level in 16 years.

Russia’s huge defense spending is also causing growing concern inside the Finance Ministry.

Nearly every other ruble in the federal budget went to military needs, The Telegraph reported.

The newspaper also noted that Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina has been absent from public view. The Kremlin has attributed her absence to sick leave, but independent Russian channels, citing sources close to the government, claim Nabiullina gave Putin an ultimatum: She would finish her term only if the Kremlin did not escalate the war by closing the borders and imposing martial law in Russia, the newspaper reported.

Despite growing discontent inside Russia, Putin has shown no sign of changing course, The Telegraph said. In recent days, the Russian dictator signed a decree increasing the authorized strength of the Russian army by nearly 10,000 people. It was the second personnel increase in the past four months.

On June 1, Bloomberg, citing sources, reported that officials from Russia’s Finance Ministry and Central Bank had warned the Kremlin that current projected spending on the war against Ukraine risked dangerously widening the state budget deficit.

On June 10, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine surpassed World War I in duration.

Ukraine’s General Staff said on June 14 that Russia’s military losses since the start of the full-scale invasion stood at an estimated 1,382,870 troops killed and wounded.