His predatory worldview was recently on\u00a0display during an\u00a0August 29\u00a0meeting with university students in\u00a0Moscow, where Putin bizarrely claimed<\/a> that orcas eat polar bears to\u00a0illustrate \u201cthe food chain\u201d and justify the\u00a0war.<\/p>\n While factually inaccurate, The Economist noted that the remark provided<\/a> a\u00a0window into the mindset of\u00a0a\u00a0leader facing a\u00a0strategic dead-end. With the Russian army stalemated and suffering tens of\u00a0thousands of\u00a0casualties each month, and Ukrainian drone strikes inflicting visible damage on\u00a0Russian infrastructure, Putin is\u00a0seeking a\u00a0new way to\u00a0escalate his way out of\u00a0the crisis.<\/p>\n Western intelligence agencies are increasingly anxious about his next moves. The Economist highlighted several recent indicators of\u00a0this growing alarm: CIA Director John Ratcliffe unexpectedly flew to\u00a0Moscow on\u00a0August 25, Finland requested Swedish military assistance to\u00a0monitor its border for incursions, Romania destroyed a\u00a0Russian naval drone targeting a\u00a0drilling platform, and authorities in\u00a0Germany and Slovakia foiled suspected sabotage plots linked to\u00a0Moscow.<\/p>\n Putin himself has ended his long silence regarding Ukraine\u2019s successful drone campaign against Russian oil refineries and logistics hubs, including warehouses belonging to\u00a0the e-commerce giant Wildberries. In\u00a0an\u00a0August 22\u00a0address, he\u00a0accused Ukraine of\u00a0opening a\u00a0\u201cPandora\u2019s box\u201d and promised severe retaliation.<\/p>\n Read more<\/p>\n CategoryWar in Ukraine<\/a>Putin Uses Orcas \u201cTearing Bears Apart\u201d to\u00a0Explain Russia\u2019s War Against Ukraine to\u00a0Children<\/a><\/p>\n \n Aug 31, 2026 11:13\n <\/p>\n Earlier that same day, he\u00a0dismissed any notion of\u00a0peace negotiations, vowing to\u00a0his political party that the military operation would move \u201conly forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Sources close to\u00a0the Kremlin told The Economist that after weeks of\u00a0deliberation over the summer, Putin appears to\u00a0have formally chosen the path of\u00a0escalation. Waning public tolerance for the war is\u00a0becoming an\u00a0increasing concern; independent polling from the Levada Centre shows 57% of\u00a0Russians now describe the situation as\u00a0\u201ctense,\u201d citing the rising death toll, mobilization fears, and a\u00a0lack of\u00a0a\u00a0future.<\/p>\n The mood among the Russian elite is\u00a0even more pessimistic. Insiders cited by\u00a0The Economist reveal a\u00a0growing consensus that the nearly five-year war is\u00a0a\u00a0failure because of\u00a0the sheer amount of\u00a0time wasted, regardless of\u00a0the outcome. However, the criminal logic guiding Putin\u2019s regime dictates that he\u00a0can never show weakness.<\/p>\n A\u00a0failure to\u00a0achieve even his minimum goal of\u00a0capturing the entire Donbas region could put his life in\u00a0physical danger. \u201cThey will hang me,\u201d he\u00a0reportedly confessed to\u00a0cronies earlier in\u00a0the war, The Economist wrote.<\/p>\n Read more<\/p>\n CategoryWar in Ukraine<\/a>\u201cIf\u00a0We\u00a0Have to\u00a0Strike, We\u00a0Will\u201d: Russian Lawmaker Urges Nuclear Attack on\u00a0Ukraine<\/a><\/p>\n \n Aug 30, 2026 16:00\n <\/p>\n While the exact shape of\u00a0the impending escalation remains unclear, The Economist suggests Russia will likely intensify hybrid warfare and sabotage operations targeting European supply routes to\u00a0Ukraine. On\u00a0the battlefield, Russian sources indicate Putin is\u00a0prepared to\u00a0throw an\u00a0additional 300,000 to\u00a0400,000 men into the fight.<\/p>\n Rather than announcing a\u00a0highly unpopular new mobilization wave, the Kremlin is\u00a0expected to\u00a0rely on\u00a0localized coercion by\u00a0regional governments to\u00a0fill the ranks. Ultimately, these escalatory measures are designed to\u00a0project strength and ensure regime survival, even as\u00a0they guarantee further instability and suffering.<\/p>\n Russia\u2019s manpower crisis is\u00a0further underscored by\u00a0Western intelligence estimates indicating Moscow is\u00a0losing<\/a> roughly 6,000 more troops each month than it\u00a0can recruit. Despite enlisting about 1,000 personnel daily, the Kremlin remains unable to\u00a0cover battlefield casualties, driving Russian forces to\u00a0intensify long-range missile strikes against Ukraine\u2019s civilians instead.<\/p>\n![\"Putin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ukraine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/(x0-y112-w8192-h4628)-98a798cd835614c7dfcf5e872eaf63a9.jpg\")
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