Recently, Russian patriotic circles have shown a change in attitude towards the future of the war in Ukraine. There is growing public criticism of slogans like “We Can Repeat”, which are now seen as failures due to the protracted, exhausting conflict. Propagandist Maksim Kalashnikov has noted in his recent post that Russia’s war against Ukraine has already lasted longer than the Soviet-German war, while the Ukrainian leadership and critical infrastructure remain intact.
The Russian authorities, meanwhile, offer no public position regarding ongoing negotiations. President Vladimir Putin has not appeared in public for over 10 days, and senior officials are also silent. There are reports of mediators meeting in the negotiation process, but the Kremlin has issued no official response.
At the same time, Russia is actively recruiting foreigners to participate in the fighting against Ukraine, particularly targeting citizens from African and Middle Eastern countries. In Iraq, a special commission is being set up to counter the recruitment of Iraqi youth into the Russian army.
Moreover, conditions within Russia are deteriorating due to intensifying frosts and disruptions in water, heating, and electricity supplies. New Russian strikes on Ukraine are expected, using cold weather as a pressure tool, but similar difficulties are emerging for ordinary Russians as well.
Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, is another focus of current news. Media reports citing Ukrainian intelligence indicate a sharp decline in his health, and analysts are discussing possible successors such as Magomed Daudov, Apti Alaudinov, or his son Akhmat. However, doubts remain about Chechnya's power inheritance, and Kadyrov's departure could alter Chechen influence in Russia. Moscow is likely to favor someone who can maintain control over the region and guarantee total loyalty.
Analysts note that the loss of a long-term leader could trigger local conflicts within Chechnya and across Russia, especially among different ethnic groups and criminal networks. This would divert Kremlin resources and increase interethnic tensions—something Russian rulers are particularly wary of.