Putins 'siloviki is now 'quietly and desperately' isolating themselves from him.

 

 As Konstantin Samoilov (left) reported 9 days ago,

"Something has changed inside Russia. I dont' mean Putin lost an election. Or the army mutinied. 

Something quiter. And in many ways more dangerous. The system of absolute control that Vladimir Putin spend 25 years building is starting to slip out of his hands." (Inside Russia: 15 May 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

         

Inside Russia: 15 May 2026  

He goes on to explain that, 

"Watch what's happened now.  

Russian officials on State television, in Duma hearings, Russian parliament hearings, in public speeches, have quietly stopped using collective language when they talk about the war and big political decisions what Putin makes.

It's Putin's special military operation, Putin's agenda, Putin's red lines, Putin's terms for negotiation. .... It's DISTANCING!!!" (ibid Konstantin Samoilov) 

Nowhere is this more apparant, as reported by Tim Lister and Svitlana Vlasova (left) today (24 May 2026) that,

"Kyiv came under a massive aerial attack overnight into Sunday, officials said, after US and Ukrainian authorities warned of a possible incoming Russian missile strike. 
... 
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered retaliation for a deadly Ukrainian attack. "

The attack comes after Putin accused Ukraine of a “terrorist” act, claiming that Ukrainian drones struck a college dormitory in Starobilsk, a Russian-occupied town in eastern Luhansk on Friday. The Russian president ordered the defense ministry to come up with proposals for a retaliatory response.  (CNN: 24 May 2026) (my emphasis)

This 'order' of Putin comes against a backdrop of,

• Russia forced to shut 400 oil wells (Konstantin Samoilov ) because of the successful and ongoing demolishing of Russia oil infrastructure
• 
  Russians banned from Europe.  Visa Applications Close After MORE THAN 500,000 People Flee Russia (Joe Bloggs (left): YouTube: 23 May 2026)
• Ukraine Retakes Strategic Territory: Controls Crimea Corridor. (Anna from Ukraine: 23 May 2026: YouTube) 
• As Ukraine escalates strikes inside Russia, the Kremlin betrays its concern with bluster about nuclear weapons and its neighbor Belarus joining the invasion. (Scott Lucas Worldview: YouTube: 24 May 2026)

 

Scott Lucas Worldview: YouTube: 24 May 2026 

And nothwistanding Xi 'fraternally' hosting Putin only days after Xi's summit with Trump, Liz Lee (left) and Ethan Wang report that,

"Moscow had signalled ahead of the visit that it was ​seeking further energy agreements with China, the largest buyer of Russian oil, including pipeline supplies and sea-borne shipments.
… 
Key issues such as gas pricing remain unresolved, and analysts expect negotiations could take years.
… 
"Russia needs this deal more urgently than China does after losing much of its European gas market, while Beijing still appears content to move slowly and preserve flexibility over future energy supply options." (Reuters: 19 May 2026) (my emphasis) 

Whilst Trump's continuing announcements about a peace deal having been reached between Iran and himself, and which thus far have always been contradicted by Iranian officials, Brandon Livesay (right) now reports that,

"US President Donald Trump says an agreement with Iran has been "largely negotiated" and details will be announced soon.
… 
"An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalisation between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed," he said.

"Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly." (BBC News: 24 May 2026) (my emphasis)  

'If ', and this is a BIG ' If ', a deal has been reached between Trump and Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz resumes as a safe shipping lane for oil tankers as it did BEFORE the US/Iran war, this will isolate Putin even more from Russian officials on State television, in Duma hearings, Russian parliament hearings, and in public speeches.

It also signifies an even deeper collapse of Putin's 'vertical of power', so assiduously built by himself over his 25 years in power. 

Putins 'siloviki is now 'quietly and desperately' isolating themselves from him. 

 

 

 

(to be continued)