Russians 'fear nuclear war' as they secretly call Putin 'a fool and nuts'

 Vladimir Putin might present a unified Russia facade, but that's nowhere near the reality on the ground. That's according to a former journalist who escaped to Germany when the war in Ukraine began in 2022.

Alexandra Prokopenko reveals many of the population are frantically attempting to dodge military conscription. The Ukraine invasion and its resulting economic consequences have turned Russians against Putin. Some label him a "fool" who has gone "nuts".

Others, meanwhile, are terrified that nuclear conflict is imminent, sparking concerns about World War 3. "People are so unhappy with the war that they have started talking about their unhappiness," Alexandra revealed.

The disclosure is enormously important. According to the journalist, Putin governs his nation with an iron grip. Children are indoctrinated daily at school into backing the conflict. Anyone who protests can end up behind bars. If they're fortunate enough to flee, they will typically be labelled a "foreign agent".

Some still back Putin, but Alexandra maintains this is usually amongst the elite who benefit from the conflict. Even that, however, is shifting due to Ukraine's bombardment of Russia in recent months.

The spectacle of oil refineries and massive warehouses ablaze throughout the nation has become routine. This has left the economy now, as Alexandra describes it, in a "death zone".

"That is a metaphor for mountaineers: the altitude where your body starts to consume its own tissue and cannot recover," she explained to The i. The process will "lead to a very slow erosion of the regime" or a "big kaboom", she said.

One source of optimism for Alexandra is Putin's advancing years. The dictator, who has maintained his iron grip on power for 26 years, has now reached 73.

Recent appearances have triggered speculation about declining health, including rambling addresses and "shaking hands". "All dictators are mortal," she added.

"Putin is 73. Of course, he could reign for the next 10 years, but we are also one stroke from another future."

Alexandra has documented her experiences in her book From Sovereigns to Servants: How the War Against Ukraine Reshaped Russia's Elite, which is out now.

This comes as a former senior commander cautioned that Russia is already engaged in warfare with NATO. Retired four-star general Curtis Scaparrotti, who previously led US forces in Europe, said there was a long-term strategy behind the Kremlin's "spurious activities" targeting member nations.