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After years of repression, the fear that once kept Putin’s Russia rigid is fraying. A filmed protest outside the Kremlin saw citizens accuse officials of theft, even as Memorial counts over 1,100 political prisoners. Discontent spreads across the system: Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov slammed soaring prices and interest rates; nationalist outlet Tsargrad railed at corrupt courts. High-profile arrests—from a Supreme Court judge with vast properties to generals accused of colossal bribes—signal decay. With war costs, sanctions, and interest rates around 18 percent squeezing families, backing for peace talks has risen, and potatoes stand as a symbol of collapse.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.