If the Russian Elites Doubt Putin, Support for the Kremlin Remains Unshakeable in Deepest Russia.

The Kremlin's propaganda continues to be regarded as the absolute truth.

While doubts are growing in the minds of Russian elites in Moscow about the war Putin has been waging in Ukraine for more than seven months, the situation seems quite different in the Russian heartland. A report by Western media in the city of Ust-Labinsk gives an insight into what Russians far from Moscow think.

Ust-Labinsk is a small town in southern Russia, with less than 40,000 inhabitants, in the agricultural region of Krasnodar. The report begins by introducing Elena, in her thirties, with a direct look and a frank speech: “Here, no cowards! We will not hesitate to go to Ukraine to fight the West.”

When asked about the conflict in Ukraine, the locals do not hesitate to talk about “war,” while Putin has always limited himself to talking about a “special military operation.” Then about their pride in sending their men to the front. Around them, tractors are busy. These fields of black soil are among the most fertile in Russia. 1,300 km south of Moscow, 400 km east of the Donbas, it is also a breeding ground for support for Vladimir Putin's Kremlin.

“My husband is ready to go to the front. Not like those traitors Muscovites running away like rats,” Elena, a singer in a Cossack heart, complains. The region is also one of the historical centers of these legendary defenders of the Slavic lands. For the moment, the couple has not received a summons. But he lives in expectation of the second wave of mobilization and at home, the bag for the front is made: “We bought everything just in case! I'm ready too. They will need singers to raise the morale of the troops,” Elena is already enthusiastic.

Like many Russians, the inhabitants of Ust-Labinsk have listened to the speeches of Vladimir Putin on Ukraine. “Here, the enthusiastic callers are counted in thousands,” rejoices Dmitri, a cab driver, and father of three children. “We will answer the call without shying away. I don't want war. But in the face of the Kyiv fascists, if I have to, I'll go.”

Most of them, however, cut short the conversation as soon as it comes to detailing their motivations. “We are heading straight for a big war. I'm ready!” says Yuri, a local honey seller. “We support,” he confides. Supporting what? “Supporting, that's all...,” he answers with a smile. The young man does not know how to justify further.

“I hate your values”

“We trust Putin!” simply replies Svetlana, a mother whose two sons, 22 and 26 years old, professional soldiers, are at the front since February 2022. “I am proud of them.” On the windshield of her car, she stuck a “Z,” symbol of the solidarity of Russians for their army.

“This is a conflict of civilization. What have Westerners brought that is positive, other than colonizing and destroying, from Libya to Ukraine? I hate your values. Look at your toys and cartoons: bad quality and often immorality,” says Svetlana while driving her car. It is a Renault, a Logan model made in Russia.

Who are the “fascists” pointed out by Putin in Ukraine? What are the objectives of the Kremlin with this war? Why is the Ukrainian army advancing? What are the economic consequences of the conflict?

To these questions, Svetlana like the majority in Ust-Labinsk does not answer.

“Let's talk about nature and good weather,” she dodges. “In the face of threats from the United States and NATO, Russia could no longer avoid the war that the West was fomenting against us,” analyses Piotr, a farmer. By way of explanation, he said he had read a statement by a European leader saying that “the Western objective is the destruction of Russia.” Where did he read it? “I don't know. Somewhere on an independent Russian news site...”

This is a very interesting report to see that the view we have in the Western world of a weakened Putin in Russia is probably overrated. Of course, Putin is increasingly questioned by Russian elites in Moscow, but in deep Russia, the Kremlin propaganda still hits home, and many will continue to support Putin to the end because they are convinced by all the lies that the Kremlin has propagated for decades about the West.

The road to an anti-Putin revolt still seems to be long, although the defeat that awaits him in Ukraine could accelerate the process.

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