The biggest threat facing Putin today is not from Western-sympathising, anti-war liberals, but Right-wing “ultra-patriots” frustrated by the Russian army’s failures in Ukraine. Earlier this month, the Russian MP Oleg Matveychev warned of a potential coup: “The situation is not so critical yet, but 2023 will be very dangerous.” Turbo-patriots are now “the only danger to our state,” he said.
These dire premonitions are exaggerated but, with Alexei Navalny in prison, and many liberals in exile, disillusioned patriots are the only opposition force left in town. They include ordinary Russians, who are furious with the elites for profiting from the fighting, while buying and schmoozing their way out of military service. But that doesn’t translate into a desire to end the fighting: the ultra-patriots want Russia to be victorious over Ukraine and the West, even if it means waging war harder, faster, and more effectively.
These “turbo-patriots” don’t form a coherent political group. Rather, they are an unholy combination of ethno-nationalists, opportunistic military bloggers, imperial romantics, volunteer groups and neo-Nazis. What they all share is a militaristic nationalism, distrust of the West and of liberalism more broadly, patriarchal values, and a strong desire to see Russia win over its enemies.
One of the best-known turbo-patriots is Igor Girkin, 52, who never misses an opportunity to denounce Putin’s handling of the war. A former FSB officer, Girkin is backed by the imperialist Orthodox billionaire and coup-plotter extraordinaire, Konstantin Malofeev. He played a pivotal role in sparking the 2014 conflict in Donbas, but was recalled to Moscow after the downing of flight MH17 and the deaths of its 298 passengers, for which a Dutch court found him guilty in absentia in 2022.
Girkin mockingly refers to Putin as “Our Sacred Geogalactic-brained Strategist” and has accused Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu of “criminal negligence”. While it’s clear Putin is also unhappy with his generals, ultra-patriots like Girkin believe his constant interference with military strategy is only making the situation worse. The Russian President is micromanaging from afar, causing delays in the already-stilted army communications networks. By shuffling commanders around, he is heightening confusion while further depressing the troops.
The Kremlin has gone to great lengths to undermine Girkin’s appeal: preventing him from travelling to the frontline to fight, and setting Putin’s attack dog Yevgeny Prigozhin, the 61-year-old head of the Wagner Group, against him. Prigozhin, like Girkin, also belongs to the disparate band of ultra-patriots; this week, he accused Shoigu and his most senior general of treason for withholding ammunition and supplies from Wagner fighters. The difference is that Prigozhin is unflinchingly loyal to Putin.
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SubscribeAnd Biden wants regime change. It’s nothing more than wishful thinking to believe the demise of Putin will usher in a golden era of democracy in Russia.
Not democracy for sure. I’m not even sure I’d even want Biden’s idea of democracy. But Putin can’t change direction. New people can at least change something without losing face.
“New people” idea gives me shivers. Mr Putin is moderate compared to Mr Evil (oops, Dr Evil). At least he does not want to take over the world, like for example, Mr Trotsky or Mr H. did. The next guy might go for it. Be careful about your wishes.
Take your point but then every comment becomes a flat negative. I am seeing plenty of negatives but no ideas.
Well said, in connection with which try googling Nikolai Patrushev if you want to make your flesh creep.
Take your point but then every comment becomes a flat negative. I am seeing plenty of negatives but no ideas.
Well said, in connection with which try googling Nikolai Patrushev if you want to make your flesh creep.
“New people” idea gives me shivers. Mr Putin is moderate compared to Mr Evil (oops, Dr Evil). At least he does not want to take over the world, like for example, Mr Trotsky or Mr H. did. The next guy might go for it. Be careful about your wishes.
And Putin wants regime change. It’s nothing more than wishful thinking to believe the demise of Biden will usher in a golden era of democracy in America.
Not democracy for sure. I’m not even sure I’d even want Biden’s idea of democracy. But Putin can’t change direction. New people can at least change something without losing face.
And Putin wants regime change. It’s nothing more than wishful thinking to believe the demise of Biden will usher in a golden era of democracy in America.
And Biden wants regime change. It’s nothing more than wishful thinking to believe the demise of Putin will usher in a golden era of democracy in Russia.
As with any Real Russian (just a new iteration of the old “Soviet Man”), people like Putin, Prigozhin and Girkin fear and despise one another.
Their character was fixed centuries ago, in the time of Ivan the Dread: they grudgingly serve those above–and hate and abuse anyone below. They only refrain from killing one another now because of an all-powerful, “infallible” leader.
But when Putin goes, Russia turns into a barrel-full of starving rats.
Just how many in that unhappy land will then survive is anyone’s guess.
Starving rats with nukes. A nightmare no sane mind could conjure.
So is Putin our one and only Saviour?
And any disloyalty on our part is impermissible?
So is Putin our one and only Saviour?
And any disloyalty on our part is impermissible?
There’s a not an entirely self-interested reason why the West has often propped up dictators: the best of a bad bunch.
After all, in the West’s finest hour, the largest mass murderer in modern history was our ally and despite a nuclear balance entirely in its favour, the West chose to let him keep the country he had invaded alongside the Nazis that was the trigger for WW2.
Starving rats with nukes. A nightmare no sane mind could conjure.
There’s a not an entirely self-interested reason why the West has often propped up dictators: the best of a bad bunch.
After all, in the West’s finest hour, the largest mass murderer in modern history was our ally and despite a nuclear balance entirely in its favour, the West chose to let him keep the country he had invaded alongside the Nazis that was the trigger for WW2.
As with any Real Russian (just a new iteration of the old “Soviet Man”), people like Putin, Prigozhin and Girkin fear and despise one another.
Their character was fixed centuries ago, in the time of Ivan the Dread: they grudgingly serve those above–and hate and abuse anyone below. They only refrain from killing one another now because of an all-powerful, “infallible” leader.
But when Putin goes, Russia turns into a barrel-full of starving rats.
Just how many in that unhappy land will then survive is anyone’s guess.
“they will look to those ultra-patriots that stayed around”
Exactly. Mr Putin’s approval is 80% but the disapproving 20% are not necessarily come from pro-Western. Some percentage can be from those who think he is too soft.
“they will look to those ultra-patriots that stayed around”
Exactly. Mr Putin’s approval is 80% but the disapproving 20% are not necessarily come from pro-Western. Some percentage can be from those who think he is too soft.
The adoption of liberalism and democracy in the 90’s coincided with economic collapse and lawlessness. Unfortunately that’s led to russian disdain for them.
It could be a couple of generations before they join the rest of Europe (politically).
The adoption of liberalism and democracy in the 90’s coincided with economic collapse and lawlessness. Unfortunately that’s led to russian disdain for them.
It could be a couple of generations before they join the rest of Europe (politically).
Relax.
This will be a re-run of 1917. It will all be domestic. Don’t flatter yourself that anyone in the West will be uppermost in the mind of any Russian.
Even the Bolsheviks’ desire for world revolution went on hold while they battled their various enemies. During Civil Wars, the very last thing any of the combatants thinks of is picking a fight with foreigners.
They hate one another far too much.
Foch should have left Hoffmann to finish the job.
It wouldn’t have taken much.
Foch should have left Hoffmann to finish the job.
It wouldn’t have taken much.
Relax.
This will be a re-run of 1917. It will all be domestic. Don’t flatter yourself that anyone in the West will be uppermost in the mind of any Russian.
Even the Bolsheviks’ desire for world revolution went on hold while they battled their various enemies. During Civil Wars, the very last thing any of the combatants thinks of is picking a fight with foreigners.
They hate one another far too much.