Russian elite urges Putin to halt war amid growing dissent

Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov suffered a nervous breakdown on air, admitting the war in Ukraine was a “big mistake”, highlighting a critical shortage of drones and proposing a mass evacuation of Russian border regions. Prominent members of the Russian elite, including Sberbank chief German Gref and fertilizer oligarch Andrei Melnychenko, have publicly criticized President Vladimir Putin’s conduct of the war and called for an end to hostilities, with Melnychenko seeking economic support from the West. Analysts report that Russia’s wealthiest individuals have transferred tens of billions of dollars abroad in preparation for a possible uprising, prompting heightened security around Putin’s Valdai residence with new air‑defence systems and a 400,000‑strong National Guard. Kazakhstan’s president has publicly urged Putin to “freeze” the conflict, underscoring the growing regional concern. Experts warn that the regime’s stability is precarious and the risk of violence is rising.