“Hawks” in the Russian Federation insist on the mobilization and resignation of Shoigu

A number of supporters of the “hard line” in the leadership of the Russian security forces want to obtain from President Vladimir Putin the dismissal of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, as well as the intensification of hostilities in Ukraine, general mobilization and the introduction of martial law. The Bloomberg agency writes about this, referring to five sources in the Russian elites. It does not name those who are trying to tighten the course from Putin.

The agency emphasizes that similar demands were made, in particular, by the head of PMC “Wagner” Yevgeny Prigozhin, who staged an armed march on Moscow at the end of June, which Putin himself described as a rebellion. As Bloomberg writes, many in the Russian leadership were surprised by the fact that Putin, in fact, did not punish the rebels in any way – although he did not fulfill their demands. Because of this, Putin’s reputation as a “guarantor of stability” could suffer – although Bloomberg emphasizes that, in general, Russian elites still do not see an alternative to Putin and support the status quo.

The agency’s publication is mainly devoted to the Kremlin’s preparations for the 2024 presidential elections, in which, as many commentators believe, Putin will run again for a six-year term. In addition to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Russian president, according to sources, has recently been particularly concerned about the ruble exchange rate and economic stability issues. Bloomberg’s interlocutors agree that Putin does not want to allow a spike in inflation before the elections, which the mayor demands to save the ruble from free fall. The agency relies on assumptions that Putin will run for a fifth term and use his campaign to show that his power remains as strong and self-confident despite sanctions, war and economic problems.