RUSSIA is on the “brink of a social explosion” and should end its disastrous war with Ukraine immediately, an opposition MP has warned.
Lawmaker Vyacheslav Markhayev urged Vladimir Putin and his ruling caste to “come to their senses” before the country is plunged into “total chaos”.
This rare criticism comes as Ukraine gains the upper hand in the war inflicting massive human losses and fuel shortages on Russia.
In what would be a humiliating blow, Putin could soon lose access to Crimea as Ukraine batters highways with constant drone strikes.
Markhayev, 71, also blasted Kremlin bosses for sending young Russian men to die on the frontline fighting Putin’s war.
He said: “We need a clear, public plan to end the special military operation, based on Russia’s national interests.
“The time for illusions has passed.
“The country is on the brink of a social explosion, and full responsibility for this will lie with the irremovable authorities.”
In a blistering attack, Markhayev accused the Russian despot of damaging the country in the same way as a foreign invader.
“What would an external enemy do if it captured Russia? It would seize resources, loot industry, drive up tariffs and build mansions for itself,” he said.
“But no invasion took place – the authorities managed to do all this themselves, more effectively than any aggressor.”
The MP added that under Putin’s leadership there had been “no real achievements apart from the personal enrichment of the elites”.
“The number of Russian billionaires has reached a record 155, with their combined wealth amounting to almost $700 billion — one and a half times the federal budget,” he said.
“Multi-billion-rouble thefts, arrests of officials at all levels, the seizure of assets worth a trillion roubles a year – this is the real picture.”
He continued: “If this situation continues, a social explosion and total chaos will become more likely.
“The West will inevitably take advantage of this to finish off what remains of Russian statehood.”
This comes after Putin was forced to scale back Russia Day celebrations as Ukraine launched a series of powerful strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian forces successfully targeted the Armiansk Bridge, a key route linking occupied Crimea with mainland Russia.
Ukraine’s 1st Separate Assault Regiment Da Vinci claimed the strike had “completely paralysed” the vital logistics corridor, rendering the bridge unusable.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/16499002/putin-russia-brink-social-explosion-end-war/