Russian elites

An autocratic regime is only stable as long as the elites are convinced that no one in their ranks will dare to oppose the leader. Until now the Russian elites have kept their heads low, although privately many members have negative feelings about the war and its consequences. Thanks to Prigozhin's mutiny Putin’s vulnerability has become public knowledge and public spectacle.

Since the beginning of the war rumours spread concerning the possibility of a split among the Russian elites. But despite individual dissent there is no reason to expect such a split nor organised collective action against the ‘special military operation’ in the foreseeable future.