For Putin, Problems (and Paranoia) Keep Mounting

"The current tensions began to appear around the start of the year, when the Kremlin banned or restricted most messaging apps, except for one that had been developed by the state. During the next three weeks, mobile internet was impeded or shut off in the center of Moscow. The crackdown-which came amid a shrinking economy, rising costs, tax increases, and Ukrainian drone strikes on the country's energy sector-led to a rare outburst of public discontent and an equally uncommon acknowledgment of the dissatisfaction from Putin."

"Of the internet outages, he said, "It does happen, unfortunately," but he made clear that Russia's security considerations were paramount. Last month, Victoria Bonya, a popular TV personality and influencer, posted an eighteen-minute video to social media critiquing the many ills of modern Russia, in which she said, addressing Putin, "The people are afraid of you, artists are afraid, governors are afraid.""

"She warned that Russians are "being squeezed into a coiled spring," which, one day, "will shoot out." (Tellingly, although Bonya touched on everything from environmental disasters to the internet blackout, she did not mention the war or criticize Putin directly.) The video, which has been viewed some thirty million times, became a topic of discussion on the floor of the Duma."

Drone attacks, internet blackouts, and economic deterioration have driven prominent Russians to question Vladimir Putin’s grip on power. Restrictions on messaging apps began early in the year, with most services banned or limited except a state-developed option. Mobile internet in central Moscow was impeded or shut off over three weeks. The measures coincided with a shrinking economy, rising costs, tax increases, and Ukrainian drone strikes targeting the energy sector. Putin acknowledged public dissatisfaction by saying outages happen but security considerations were paramount. Victoria Bonya posted a widely viewed video criticizing modern Russia, warning people are afraid and being squeezed until something breaks. Her remarks spread into political debate, including warnings of inevitable economic collapse.

Read at The New Yorker