The Russian elite opposes the war, but cannot tell Putin the truth

Although the Russian armed forces were expected to make quick progress and dominate Ukrainian airspace on the eve of the invasion, they shot down several of their planes in the confusion. As a result, Russia also lost pilots who had experience in cooperation with ground forces, two Western sources and one Ukrainian source told the Financial Times.

According to Vadim Skibicka, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov did not want to launch an attack from so many directions at once, but the FSB and other officials convinced him otherwise and assured him that no resistance was expected.

Putin expects more loyalty than competence from his subordinates, and the Russian bureaucracy only tells Putin what he wants to hear, sources say. For many in Russia’s elite, it is a survival strategy, and as one Russian source told the newspaper, most of Russia’s presidential administration and those in charge of the economy are personally opposed to the war, but feel powerless to do anything about it.

Some key officials, such as former Russian presidential climate adviser Anatoly Chubais, have quietly resigned. In addition, it is alleged that one of the most important heads of state companies has applied for an Israeli passport while still in office and has developed a plan to leave the country.