Don’t Expect Russians to Protest the War
Ukraine may have hoped that deeper drone attacks would cause Russians to rise up, but mass demonstrations don’t look likely.
Ukraine's recent campaign of drone attacks against Russia has led to significant disruptions, including fuel shortages that have left Russians waiting in long lines for gas. Despite these hardships, mass protests demanding an end to the war have not materialized. Russians have grown accustomed to such inconveniences, having experienced similar shortages under Soviet rule.
Demonstrations during the early stages of the war were more common, with nearly 19,000 anti-war activists arrested. However, protests have since largely disappeared, and even notable critics of the regime, like veteran Alexander Lunin, have faced imprisonment for speaking out. In the face of the war, Russians now appear to view themselves as "under attack" and are preparing to "tighten their belts."
The government continues to be feared, and people generally avoid voicing dissent, fearing repercussions from authorities like the FSB.
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