End of the empire /
How likely is Russia’s disintegration?
With every passing month of the Ukraine war, the prospect of
the Russian Federation collapsing into a collection of smaller states seems
more credible. Heavy losses on the battlefield, an ailing economy, and an
ever-shrinking occupation footprint in Ukraine is all contributing to growing
instability of the regime. And then Russian dictator Vladimir Putin declared mobilization on Sept. 21, inviting further and broader public
criticism of his rule.