According to a report by The Guardian newspaper based on Kremlin-affiliated sources, Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to continue the military operations in Ukraine with the goal of gaining full control over the Donbass region by the end of the year. Sources indicate that despite some disappointment and a sense of deadlock among certain elites in the fifth year of the war, Putin has not abandoned his hardline policies. Especially, restrictions and blockades on the internet have caused significant discomfort in Moscow. Some of Putin's close associates, such as press secretary Dmitry Peskov and Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko, have made efforts for softer policies, but Putin supports the continuation of strict restrictions due to his trust in the security forces. Recently, control of the internet was handed over to the Second Service of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), resulting in restrictions on platforms like Telegram. Journalist Ksenia Sobchak suggests that Russian officials have in principle decided to completely block foreign social media platforms and that this could be implemented next year. The Guardian reports that despite growing dissatisfaction among the elites, the possibility of an anti-Putin coup is low and Putin continues to maintain control of the situation.
