Putin is living on borrowed time.

Notwithstanding Putin's 'glove puppet'  constantly threatening to unleash 'nuclear Armageddon' if, as reported by David Brennan ,

"Dmitry Medvedev—Russia's former prime minister and president who has become one of Moscow's most prominent hawks—has asserted that Ukrainian "capitulation" is the only path to peace, as Kyiv's forces continue a slow counteroffensive." (Newsweek : 11 August 2023) (my emphasis),

Newsweek : 11 August 2023

we now have, as reported by Tim McNulty and Will Stewart, 

"Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) issued a warning today about the possibility of a "nuclear disaster" in the Ukraine conflict, as he blamed Kyiv for bombing a nuclear power station.
...
This comment comes as Western concerns rise about Russia staging a phony incident to blame a nuclear disaster on Ukraine, triggering radioactive pollution across Europe. (Express : 15 August 2023) (my emphasis) 

As also reported by Jacob Paul,

"Russia could be plotting a horrific string of false flag attacks on two nuclear facilities, including one on its own turf, according to reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin could be devising a terrifying plan to target its own nuclear plant in the Kursk region of Russia in a false flag attack, a spokesperson of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Tuesday. (Express :16 August 2023) (my emphasis)

Express :16 August 2023

That Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has now also climbed onto Medvedev's bandwagon of  'threatening nuclear Armageddon' should give us serious pause for concern.

Shoigu, together with Putin, also has his finger poised above the nuclear button.   

This threat of 'nuclear Armageddon' by Shoigu may be due to the fact that, as reported by the Economist,

"“During the past two weeks we have seen things gradually tipping in Ukraine’s favour,” says Nico Lange, a Ukraine expert at the Munich Security Conference. The evidence from both satellite imagery and (mainly Russian) military bloggers is that slow progress is being made. Sir Lawrence Freedman, a British military strategist, agrees: “They’re [the Ukrainian army are] doing [their] stuff and they’re stretching the Russians.” (The Economist : 16 August 2023) (my emphasis)

 Added to which, as reported by Oren Liebermann and Natasha Barrett (left),

"The US has committed to approving the transfer of F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine as soon as pilot training is complete, according to a US official.
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Denmark and the Netherlands have taken the lead in preparing a program to train Ukrainian pilots on the American jet, but the US is still working with other countries to see who may provide F-16s to the Ukrainian Air Force.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent letters to his counterparts in Denmark and the Netherlands assuring them that the transfer of the jets would have the “full support” of the Biden administration and would move quickly when training on the advanced aircraft is complete. (CNN : 17 August 2023) (my emphasis)

Sky News : 18 August 2023 : YouTube

 Adding to Putin's panic on hearing that F-16 fighter jets will be transferred to Ukraine, Michael Race (left) reports that,

"Russia has hiked interest rates to 12% after the rouble fell to its lowest value in 16 months.

The currency fell past 100 per dollar on Monday, prompting Russia's central bank to hold an emergency meeting.
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Pressure has been mounting on the Russian economy due to imports rising faster than exports and military spending growing for the Ukraine war." (BBC News : 16 August 2023) (my emphasis)

Reuters : 16 August 2023 : YouTube

If this were not enough to increase Putin's furious pacing around in his bunker, Tom Watling (left) reports that,

"Russian forces defending a major flashpoint on the frontline have admitted a rare defeat as Ukrainian officials claimed their soldiers had “entrenched” themselves in the village [of Urozhaine].

Urozhaine, near the Zaporizhzhia/Donetsk border, has been the site of heavy tank battles for weeks as Ukrainian forces looked to accelerate their counter offensive.

The liberation of Urozhaine amounts to a major breakthrough for Ukraine as they look to proceed down the spine of the Russian fortifications to the Sea of Azov." (Express : 16 August 2023) (my emphasis)

And on the home front in Russia, Jacob Paul informs us that,

"A state television presenter dubbed the "Iron Doll of Putin TV" appeared to deny the Russian president's argument that Moscow has a historic claim to the Black Sea territory of Crimea.
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A Russian presenter appeared to admit live on state TV that the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula is not part of Russia in a major blow to Vladimir Putin.
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Olga Skabeyeva (right), who has been dubbed the "Iron Doll of Putin TV", made the comments during a broadcast on Russia-1, which was later shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs." (Express : 16 August 2023) (my emphasis)  (cf also: Isabel van Brugen:Newsweek:16 August 2023)

Newsweek:16 August 2023

Ukraine's advancing counter offensive, coupled with a hike in interest rates as the rouble continues to plunge in value, and Skabeyeva's 'slip of the tongue' about Crimea not being part of Russia, must be driving Putin apoplectic with fear and rage.

Putin now knows that he is living on borrowed time as power continues to slip through his fingers. 

 

 

 

(to be continued)