The Russian elite, which criticized the war in 2022, began to support it – ISW Dmitry Usik Russian elites support the war in Ukraine/Collage 24 Channel Many Russian elites have moved from criticizing Russia's military actions in Ukraine to supporting it . They believe that Russia can win. The Institute for the Study of War writes about this with reference to Russian oppositionist Mikhail Zigar. Elites reportedly expect Russia to gradually advance and Ukraine to lose a war of attrition.Elites believe Russia will win< /h2>
Many Russian elites who were against the war in 2022 began to support the war in 2023 because they “believe that Russia is winning.” According to Zigar, this was due to the slow but steady progress of the aggressor. They also took into account the constant shortage of ammunition in Ukraine and the “decrease” in Western aid.
One unknown Russian oligarch who had previously criticized the war said that Russia must win the war, otherwise “they will not let us live… and Russia will fall apart.” Russian elites have even begun to speculate about the results of the war, pointing to Russia's victory, ISW quotes the oppositionist as saying.
Analysts note that they cannot verify the veracity of these words, but they are consistent with their own assessment that Russian elites supported Putin's ideas about the war after the intensification of repression.
Thus, the talk of Russian elites that Russia can win on the battlefield indicates that they can also implement Putin's “victory theory.” It is noted that it envisages that the Russian army will be able to continue a gradual creeping advance indefinitely, prevent a significant counteroffensive by Ukraine, and ultimately win the war of attrition.
Recall that Vladimir Putin presented his “victory theory” at the St. Petersburg Forum. Analysts note that the dictator believes in Russia's ability to “squeeze” Ukrainian troops out of the occupied territories. ISW writes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have previously shown that when well-supplied, they can prevent Russian troops from achieving even minor tactical successes and launch counter-offensive operations.
