Criticism of Putin with in the Russian ranks eeks out

 ISW:

Western and Russian reports of fractures within the Kremlin are gaining traction within the Russian information space, undermining the appearance of stability of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime. The Washington Post reported that US intelligence obtained information that a member of Putin’s inner circle directly criticized Putin’s “extensive military shortcomings” during the war in Ukraine, and other Western and Kremlin-affiliated officials noted rising criticism of Putin’s mishandling of the war and mobilization.[1] Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that there have been debates in the Kremlin regarding mobilization in a statement to The Washington Post but denied all allegations of a member of the Kremlin confronting Putin. ISW cannot verify any of these reports are real or assess the likelihood that these arguments or fractures will change Putin’s mind about continuing the war, let alone if they will destabilize his regime. Word of fractures within Putin’s inner circle have reached the hyper-patriotic and nationalist milblogger crowd, however, undermining the impression of strength and control that Putin has sought to portray throughout his reign.

Some Russian milbloggers have begun speculating that there are two factions within the Kremlin following Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Wagner Private Military Company financier Yevgeny Prigozhin’s harsh criticism of the Russian higher military command.[2] A milblogger told his nearly one million readers that Kadyrov and Prigozhin are part of the faction that seeks to continue the war and accomplish its ideological goals regardless of cost. The milblogger noted that the faction opposed to them consisted of government officials who wish to negotiate with the West to save their assets and residences in the West but are too afraid to confront Putin directly. The milblogger expressed hope that the pro-war faction will defeat the faction that fails to see that Russia cannot afford to end the war.
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The Ukraine war has made Russia a much weaker conventional power.  It should not be surprising that factions within Russia would recognize this while the pro-war factions still have unrealistic goals while they push more Russians into a failed operation.  What we are seeing now is that the longer the war goes on the weaker the Russian military becomes.  The Russian political establishment appears unable to change Putin's mind about his disastrous war efforts.  This is not that unusual in a country dominated by a supreme leader like Putin.  For now, Putin continues to blame his generals for the failure of his policies.

See, also:

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And:

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...

And:

 Eastern Commander latest Russian general to be sacked as defeats mount - RBC news

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...

And:

 As Russian troops 'panic' a member of Putin's inner circle confronts him about the conduct of the war