Kremlin turns war in Ukraine into systemic abuse of its own people
Russian soldiers, captured by 82nd Air Assault brigade, somewhere between Dobropillia and Pokrovsk awaiting for being transfered to the rear (Photo: Kostyantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images)
“Bunker Putin”, “cannibal commanders,” “disposable mercenaries” — Russian social media vocabulary is becoming increasingly anti-war, just like public sentiment, researcher Liubov Tsybulska said in an interview with NV on Jan. 16.
Liubov Tsybulska is a head of Join Ukraine — an organization that has studied Russian regional communities for four years — from Telegram to VKontakte, from Tatarstan to Khakassia,
She explained why this shift is happening — but still does not change anything.
Blood money
Russia’s war is paid for by its own population, says Alexandra Prokopenko of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in her 2025 analysis. She concluded that the Russian government stabilizes public finances not through economic growth, but through higher taxes.
The Kremlin needs money. As of Reuters estimates, Russia’s combined spending on “defense and national security” in 2025 reached 17 trillion rubles ($221 billion) — 41% of total state expenditures.
Yet despite record spending, Russia is unable to create new weapons systems and relies almost entirely on Soviet-era stockpiles. The UK think tank Chatham House has described Russia’s defense industry as being in a state of “innovative stagnation.”
Meanwhile, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported in early 2025 that Russia lost 1,400 tanks in 2024 alone and is struggling to replace them. Senior IISS analyst Ben Barry noted that Russian forces are increasingly “trading quality for quantity,” pulling equipment out of Soviet warehouses.
Human fuel
The Kremlin also needs people — and Russians pay for Putin’s war with their lives.
The contract recruitment system is collapsing. Pavel Luzin of the Center for European Policy Analysis said Moscow kept raising payments, but money is running out faster than volunteers. Those who joined for ideology are mostly dead or incapacitated. Those who joined for money are fewer and fewer.
Now Russia’s army increasingly relies on coercion. This, in turn, devastates the psychological state of soldiers and their families.
“There is an accumulation of exhaustion and fear,” Tsybulska concluded.
Her team monitors online communities across all Russian Oblasts and Republics, tracking changes in language, mood, and attitudes toward the authorities.
The fear is no longer mainly of the enemy — but of their own commanders and system.
“We see unreal levels of brutality inside the Russian military machine. Mass ‘zeroing out.’ A level of internal brutalization that was once unimaginable,” Tsybulska explained.
The economy of death
The official monthly salary of a Russian contract soldier is 210,000 rubles ($2,730). Bonuses vary by region and can reach 1–2 million rubles ($13,000–$26,000) as a one-time payment.
On paper, this looks attractive — especially for rural Russia. In reality, it is a trap.
“A huge part of this money goes to survival needs — gear, fuel, sometimes food and drones,” Tsybulska said.
“If you don’t pay — which is 50–80% of the income — you are quickly sent on an assault mission.”
In other words: either you spend almost everything to stay alive, or you die.
Corruption added another layer. Commanders take money for everything: avoiding assaults, transfers, even basic protection.
“If a soldier wants to transfer from assault units to drone operators, he pays about 200,000 rubles ($2,500) to his commander,” she said.
Russian command increasingly sends foreign fighters — primarily Africans — into assaults. Their treatment is horrific. It is another way for Russians to survive: let someone else die.
Russian soldiers have developed their own vocabulary. African mercenaries are called “disposable.” Commanders are “cannibals.” Words like “meat grinder” and “genocide” are used by soldiers themselves.
Cruelty toward their own has become systemic. There were cases when commanders tied soldiers to vehicles and dragged them across fields until they died. Mobilized troops are regularly beaten and raped.
“Some days, 15 to 17 people commit suicide in a single unit,” Tsybulska said.
“That tells you how much human life is worth there.”
The burden pushed outward
The Kremlin still has to pay — but revenues are falling. SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) added that Russia’s budget also covers occupied Ukrainian territories and its own border oblasts.
Moscow shifts the burden onto the periphery.
In Khakassia, for example, public sector salaries are delayed, and debts are piling up.
Regional budget deficits have tripled in recent years, hitting the poorest territories first.
“The poorest regions provide the most soldiers,” Tsybulska said. “Wealthier regions resist quotas.”
Per-capita losses confirm this. In Tuva Republic, losses per 100,000 people are 19 times higher than in Moscow. In neighboring Buryatia — 15 times higher. In Zabaykalsky Krai — 12 times higher.
Why no rebellion?
So why no mass protests?
Because Russians lack horizontal ties.
“To start a revolt even within one unit, you need to unite with others. That requires a culture — and it doesn’t exist,” Tsybulska said.
“They lack brotherhood. They lack a shoulder to lean on.”
Ironically, propaganda has preached “brotherhood” for years.
In reality, even soldiers’ mothers — once a protest force in the Chechen wars — are silent today.
“Russian wives don’t protest even when they lose their husbands,” Tsybulska said.
“They fight only for money compensation.”
The Kremlin negotiates with each family individually — through money, gifts, or privileges.
Fear of repression dominates.
“But when discomfort exceeds fear, something may happen,” she added.
Cracks in the silence
Change is still happening.
“We see how language changes. And we see how attitudes toward Putin change,” she added.
Public criticism remains dangerous, but irony is spreading. “Bunker Putin” is becoming normalized. Even callers on pro-Kremlin radio say that “Putin has overstayed.”
Analysts differ. RUSI’s Richard Connolly warns against expecting a fast economic collapse. But Bruegel’s Marek Dabrowski says Russia’s resilience is fading: military spending slows growth, locks in inflation, and deepens structural vulnerabilities.
At the same time, Russia is running out of soldiers.
Two doors into 2026
Tsybulska outlined two Kremlin scenarios for 2026.
Scenario one: hidden mobilization in rural areas — about 230,000 soldiers. Enough to maintain current frontlines.
Scenario two: open mobilization of up to 500,000 men — requiring big cities, risking resistance. The 2022 attempt triggered mass emigration and protests.
Most likely, Moscow will choose the first.
“Russia can continue at roughly this pace for another year,” Tsybulska said.
“But it cannot scale up.”
For Ukraine, another year will be unbearably painful. But it will not bring Russia victory.
“One more year of stagnation, massive losses, sanctions, and exhaustion of willing fighters is already too much for Russia,” she concluded.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
