Vladimir Putin is facing mounting pressure over Ukraine’s escalating attacks on Moscow, which he has been able to largely insulate from the war until now.
Residents of the city describe widespread alarm and criticism of authorities after a series of damaging strikes over recent weeks that the regime has appeared helpless to prevent. Even loyalist media are joining a rising chorus of dissent. The rising threat could force Putin to consider exit strategies from the war, analysts believe.
The strikes are a blow to the Kremlin, which has sought to protect Moscow over more than four years of war. Army recruitment and casualties have disproportionately fallen on provinces, prisons and foreign fighters to spare the capital.
Shorts
Ukraine fired more than 500 drones at Moscow over Saturday night in its largest assault on the city of the war, following a deadly Russian attack on Kyiv. The barrage killed three and injured 12, according to Russian authorities, as well as shutting down airports and hitting oil facilities.
