Rosja między lodówką a telewizorem

The security crisis in Ukraine induced by Russia has helped overcome the domestic legitimacy crisis of President Vladimir Putin and his regime. The annexation of Crimea and the Donbass war on the one hand and, on the other, anti-Western confrontational rhetoric have boosted the ratings of the Russian ruling circles, giving Vladimir Putin carte blanche in domestic and foreign politics. It is in the Kremlin’s vital interest to preserve the high level of public support, but given the economic decline and no modernisation potential, this will require keeping the propaganda machine running and fueling imperial pride along with anti-Western and revanchist moods.