Ukraine War Could Trigger an Inside-Out Change in Russia
The Conversation argues that while Ukraine’s war has exposed Russia’s weaknesses and sparked public discontent (e.g., a Levada poll showing majority want the war to end), there are few signs of mass protests due to repression and a lack of an organized opposition. Historical precedents show wars andForeign-policy missteps have toppled Russian leaders, but any change is more likely to come from within the ruling elite than from street demonstrations. The Kremlin has even contemplated propaganda adjustments and keeps potential successors at bay, suggesting that if elites decide their interests require removing Putin, leadership change could occur with less popular upheaval rather than a mass uprising.
