Putin's key objective is not victory at frontlines, but at elections 

He stated this on Espreso.

According to the expert, the Russian dictator has adopted a passive stance.

"It is evident that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, lacks a clear goal. The war itself is a search for that goal. If we speak frankly, he is currently in a state of waiting. He is waiting for Ukraine to make a mistake, waiting for Trump's victory in the US elections, and hoping for a miraculous weapon such as Rublev's icon, which was presented at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior," explains Denysenko.

Putin's main priority is to gain public recognition and secure victory in the upcoming election campaign.

"Interestingly enough, his main objective for 2023-2024 is not winning on the military front, but rather winning the March 2024 elections. These elections hold great significance for him. Contrary to what some may think, it is not just about personal gain for him. He needs genuine support from the population, aiming for at least 60% popularity. He is keenly aware of the Gorbachev-Yeltsin conflict, in which Gorbachev lost due to the lack of popular legitimacy. Putin requires that popular legitimacy," he added.

The Russian President understands that society as a whole has grown accustomed to the situation on the Ukrainian front and is ready to move forward. However, the Russian people are not prepared for defeat. “That’s why Putin continues his current course of action.”

• The criticism leveled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the illegal Wagner PMC, towards the Russian Ministry of Defense, along with his assessments of the front-line situation, has started to deeply unsettle the country's top leadership.

• Putin has supported Shoigu in his conflict with Prigozhin. The Russian Ministry of Defense had plans to discredit Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the PMC Wagner.