Is Russia's elite schism finally here?
Tatiana Stanovaya says the surrender of Kherson has triggered it
New Tatiana Stanovaya take on an elite split in Russian politics: she says it's finally arrived with the loss of Kherson and turning of the tide across Ukraine. Elites with influence and something to lose (eg Sechin, Chemezov) are interested in winding this down as soon as possible. But weaker, "poorer" elites (eg Prigozhin, the Kovalchuks) want to double down and destroy Ukraine (or even the whole world) if necessary. Until now, both sides have stood by Putin, but the president's "invincibility" seems to be fading and the two camps will presumably duke it out.
Stanovaya also stresses that the wealthy elites who want the war to end aren't really a Party of Peace, given their willingness to stand by Putin without any "right or opportunity" to challenge his decisions. But maybe that could change, too.
They can say whatever they want, they are all collaborators in war crimes and attempted genocide. Russia needs to end this war, pay reparations, and surrender the Putin’s, Prigozins and other war criminals for trial so that justice is done. If the oligarchs want to show their sincerity, let them surrender their corrupt wealth to help families of the war dead in Ukraine and the Russian Federation who did not want this war.