Former Kremlin Official Says Russian Elites Are Quietly Distancing From Putin

Russians are increasingly acknowledging that President Vladimir Putin may have led the country into a political dead end, according to an anonymously authored opinion essay by a former senior Kremlin official.

The war’s economic toll has also contributed to growing public pressure. (Illustration: DonkeyHotey Flickr)

In an op-ed published by The Economist and cited in a Fortune report by Jason Ma, the former official said Russian political elites, regional governors and business leaders have subtly shifted how they discuss Putin’s actions.

Rather than referring to government actions using the collective “we,” many now reportedly speak in terms of what “he” — Putin — is doing, signaling a quieter form of political distancing.

The former official said the change began last spring but cautioned that it does not necessarily signal an imminent rebellion, as the Kremlin still controls key institutions of power and repression.

The essay also argued that Russia’s leadership has stopped promoting a broader narrative of national restoration or modernization as the war in Ukraine continues to strain the country economically and politically.

“The irony is that Mr. Putin started the war to preserve power and the system he has created,” the former official wrote.

“Now, for the first time since the conflict began, Russians are starting to imagine a future without him.”

The war’s economic toll has also contributed to growing public pressure, including inflation, higher taxes, infrastructure challenges and tighter state controls, according to the report.