Signs of Strain Among Putin’s Supporters and Russian Elite

From bloggers who once supported Vladimir Putin to some of Russia’s wealthy individuals, signs of strain have become evident. Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 20, 2026, in a photo by Alexander Kazakov from POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

For decades, Vladimir Putin has seemed nearly invincible in Russia. His opponents often end up dead, imprisoned, or forced into exile. The media remain tightly controlled, making public criticism extremely rare.