The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has decided to increase the intensity of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, according to The Economist this Monday. This decision comes at a time when the conflict is dragging on without concrete gains for the Russian side, and Ukrainian attacks are beginning to more directly affect life in Russia.
According to the British publication, Putin has made very direct comments to his allies, expressing his conviction that the only way out is to escalate the war. The Kremlin leader even reportedly said that if he does not do so, "they will hang me," revealing a scenario of mounting pressure on the Russian president.
The analysis compares Putin's situation to that of an orca which, faced with a shortage of prey among its usual targets, is forced to adapt and risk attacking more dangerous prey, such as polar bears, in a desperate attempt at survival.
The Kremlin has thus chosen the path of escalation, at a time when Russian forces appear to be in a "dead end" on Ukrainian territory, and the consequences of the war are beginning to approach Russian borders.
