Putin is failing in Ukraine but succeeding at oppressing Russia

A MAYBACH GLIDES out of a driveway gate in Prechistenka, a rich neighbourhood in Moscow. Young women from the suburbs pose for selfies next to a luxury apartment block. The Michelin-starred restaurants, though less full than last year, still enjoy a brisk trade. At first glance, Moscow’s wealth and hedonism seem almost unchanged despite Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the sanctions and isolation that have come with it. But it is not quite business as usual in Russia’s capital, however. The streets are quiet and the mood is subdued. Russians do not talk openly about the invasion of Ukraine, now entering its third month, but they are navigating a new reality of fear and anxiety. The Kremlin has in its assault on Ukraine. But in its simultaneous in Russia, it has been far more successful. It has been vigorously suppressing dissent and demoralising opponents, turning a relatively open country into a complete dictatorship. It is the Kremlin’s biggest achievement in the conflict, says Gregory Asmolov, an expert on Russian information warfare: “You couldn’t even imagine this straightjacketed political reality a few months ago.”