Russian President Vladimir Putin is often accused of isolating himself from the worsening reality of his invasion of Ukraine. But he probably couldn't ignore the clouds of black smoke over Moscow on Thursday. Refineries were destroyed only 16 kilometers from the capital of Russia, reports CNN.
The capital's anti-aircraft defenses were breached by cheap drones, the kind that have caused major problems for Ukraine until now, and now they are launching them every night towards Russia. The ecological disaster is unfolding before the eyes of the Russian public. Damage from affected refineries will affect fuel supplies and possibly lead to queues at gas stations.
Photo: Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev's official telegram channel via APMoscow: Smoke after the strike of Ukrainian drones
Does Zelensky have a solution?
The continuous publication of footage of this accident, which the Russian authorities tried to limit, is proof that the propaganda apparatus has failed. Since a drone struck the Kremlin in May 2023, Ukrainian attacks have disrupted life in Moscow, even curtailing the program for last month's Victory Day parade.
Photo: Tetiana Dzhafarova/Pool Photo via APUkraine's response to Russian bombings
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attacks as a response to continuous Russian nighttime bombings, which also hit the oldest church complex in Kyiv on Monday. And it seems that Zelensky is further encouraged by the recent G7 meeting.
From the meeting with Trump, Zelensky came out hinting that Ukraine could start producing air defense systems and missiles like the US and Europe have.
It is not clear from Trump's fluctuating mood during the G7 summit that he still has the will to mediate between Moscow and Kiev at all. Even he must be clear that the Kremlin has largely ignored him so far.
Hopes that Putin might find some way out of the conflict persist. He made vague predictions that the war would soon end and that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could act as a mediator between Russia and Europe. This was categorically rejected by the EU.
As footage of blackened rain falling on cars in Moscow emerges, the decision on the further course of the war is once again in the hands of its creator - Putin. It may be too optimistic to expect that he will choose diplomacy and the gradual winding down of the conflict, which Western intelligence services estimate has claimed the lives of half a million of his compatriots, in order to seize a part of Ukraine that represents about 0,7 percent of Russia's surface, writes CNN.
The harsh reality of Vladimir Putin
Over the decades, Putin has built an image of a cold-blooded statesman. The scale of the disaster at his doorstep, but also on a distant front, where Ukrainian medium-range missiles disrupt Russian supply lines daily and cause fuel shortages in occupied Crimea, are now surely influencing his decision-making. However, this does not necessarily mean that they will immediately ask for a way out of the conflict. Maybe just the opposite.
Photo: Unsplash / Dmitry AntUnpopular recognitions are coming from the Kremlin
This is a moment where Putin cannot afford to appear weak. This is his war and he wants to determine its destiny, both in the years to come and in history. The problems on the front are obvious, but he could convince himself that this is just another temporary lack of war luck, and that Russia will soon catch up with Ukraine in the use of drones and accelerate the conquest of territory, analyzes CNN.
The biggest risk for Putin comes from within. Last week, he was forced to acknowledge the economic damage caused by the Ukrainian attacks, to accept that he is not gaining territory at the desired rate and to face growing discontent over the shutdown of the Internet, which is at odds with the narrative of total victory.
Big political changes in Russia used to come after unsuccessful wars. Russia's exit from the First World War led to a bloody revolution, the defeat in Afghanistan preceded the chaotic collapse of the Soviet Union, etc. We should not expect easy changes, even if they happen, which seems unlikely, CNN concludes.
Until recently, Putin's 26 years at the head of Russia were marked by skillful maneuvering, pragmatism and great geopolitical influence. Moscow's next move, as sooty smoke rises over its horizon, would have to be to find a way to accept and adapt to its own weakness without tarnishing the image of its own strength.
Source: CNN
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